| Leucocrinum montanum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| 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 |
|
Leucocrinum montanum, commonly known as the sand lily, starlily or mountain lily, is the only species in the monotypic genus Leucocrinum, placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae.[1] It is a perennial plant native to western North America growing to 0.2 meters that flowers in late spring and early summer. The flowers are monoecious. Early in spring, the waxy-white flowers arise from a cluster of leaves that look much like a tuft of grass. Then, by midsummer, the plant disappears completely from the surface and lies dormant underground through the hottest part of the year. Unlike most true lilies, L. montanum has fleshy finger-like roots instead of a bulb.