dogtooth violet, Erythronium americanum

Can't have spring without dogtooth violets, or whatever they may be to you. I learned that name at my mother's knee, and they remain dogtooth (not really)violets. Are those counter intuitive names part of the fascination? Others might say adder's-tongues, or trout lilies. At a recent presentation I introduced them as dogtooth adder tongue violet trout lilies. Nature's artistry here is darn near perfect, with the swept back effect and red anthers, attended by dark spotted leaves. A true spring ephemeral, the plants are already starting to die back. These grow in woods in AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, IA(T), IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, NB, NF, NS, ON, and QC. Lenawee Co MI, 5/1/12.