Leucocrinum
| Leucocrinum | |
|---|---|
| Close up of flowers growing in Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Leucocrinum Nutt. ex A.Gray |
| Species: | L. montanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucocrinum montanum Nutt. ex A.Gray | |
| The county level distributions of Leucocrinum montanum in western North America | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Leucocrinum montanum, commonly known as the common starlily, sandlily, or mountain lily, is the only species in the monotypic genus Leucocrinum, which was placed in the asparagus family in 2009. It is a common and widespread early spring wildflower on the shortgrass prairie, the central and southern Rocky Mountains, and the Intermountain West.
It is a low growing plant, no more than 10 centimeters (4 in) tall. The common starlily's flowers are also close to the ground with a floral tube that extends underground. The seed capsule develops beneath the surface of the soil with several different theories as to how the seeds are then distributed.