Taxon Report

Erythronium shastense D.A. York, J.K. Nelson, & D.W. Taylor

Shasta fawn lily

Print Report


© 2015 Len Lindstrand III

Taxon Summary

Erythronium shastense, commonly known as Shasta fawn lily, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Liliaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 350 to 1020 meters. Erythronium shastense is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Erythronium shastense D.A. York, J.K. Nelson, & D.W. Taylor
Common Name:
 Shasta fawn lily
Family: Liliaceae
Element Code: PMLIL0U0V0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: (Feb)Mar-Apr (Feb)Mar-Apr
Elevation: 350-1020 (1150-3345)
General Habitats: Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Carbonate (usually), Rocky
Microhabitat Details: north-facing or shaded, can form clumps due to bulb offsets

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2
Global Rank: G2
State Rank:
 S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:
  • added to 1B.2 on 2015-09-14

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 14
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 11
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 3

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Shasta (SHA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bollibokka Mtn. (4012282), Devils Rock (4012271), Hanland Peak (4012283), Minnesota Mtn. (4012272), O'Brien (4012273)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 1
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 7 %
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 7%

Notes
Potentially threatened by hydrological alterations, development, limestone mining, trail and road construction and maintenance, non-native plants, and climate change. Possibly threatened by horticultural collecting. Previously identified, and similar to, E. californicum; also similar to E. helenae. See Madroño 62(3):158-166 (2015) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2015-09-14
Erythronium shastense account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2021)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 8 November 2025].