Littleflower's Medicine of North American Plants

Range: Native to the northeastern quarter of the U.S. and adjacent Canada.

Habitat: Moist Woods.

Description: A slow growing member of the Lily Family. One of our earliest wildflowers, the yellow trout lily appears in mid to late March and is often found in large colonies wherever present. This plant grows best in rich, organic soil that is moist but well-drained. It prefers some light sun in the early spring. The names for this plant come from the shape of bulb, like a dog's canine tooth, and from its speckled leaves that call to mind a trout.

Foliage: Oblong light green mottled with spots, one for young plants and two for mature plants from the ¾" bulb which may be a foot deep; foliage dies back and plants goes dormant in late spring when tree leaves appear

Flowers: Nodding, 1 to 1½" rich yellow flower (one per plant) on a stalk slightly above the leaves, 3 petals and 3 petal-like sepals are reflexed back to expose the purplish streak or spots and stamens; spring with fruit in early summer.

Use: The bulb-like roots were eaten as food by Winnebago children and Montana Indians.

The constituents of the plant have not yet been analyzed. The fresh leaves and corm, and to a lesser degree the rest of the plant, are emetic.

The fresh leaves having emollient and anti-scrofulous properties are mostly used in the form of a stimulating poultice, applied to swellings, tumors and scrofulous ulcers.

The infusion is taken internally in wineglassful doses. It is reputed of use in dropsy, hiccough and vomiting.