Lophiola

Golden-crest
1813 illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Dioscoreales
Family: Nartheciaceae
Genus: Lophiola
Ker Gawl.
Species:
L. aurea
Binomial name
Lophiola aurea
Ker Gawl.
Synonyms
  • Argolasia tomentosa Raf.
  • Lophiola tomentosa (Raf.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
  • Conostylis americana Pursh
  • Helonias tomentosa Muhl. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Lophiola americana (Pursh) A.Wood
  • Lophiola breviflora Gand.
  • Lophiola floridana Gand.
  • Lophiola septentrionalis Fernald

Lophiola is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants native to eastern North America. It has variously been placed in the Liliaceae, the Haemodoraceae, the Tecophilaeaceae or the Nartheciaceae.

Fernald (1921) recommended recognizing three species, separating the Nova Scotia populations as L. septentrionalis and the New Jersey-Delaware material as L. americana. More recent investigations, however, have suggested that the group be regarded as one species.

Lophiola aurea is found in wet locations at elevations less than 100 m. It is a perennial herb up to 90 cm tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. It has yellow flowers about 10 mm across, and dry capsules about 4 mm in diameter. Goldencrest is a common name.