| Snake's-head Fritillary |
Lily family |
| Fritillaria meleagris |
Liliaceae |
An elegant spring flower, found in damp meadows of Central and Southern England.
The flowers have a chequered pattern, usually maroon, but they can also be white.
The name "Snake's-head" is derived from the shape of the flower in bud.
This plant is much less common than it used to be a century ago, due to the loss of its habitat
due to modern agriculture (such as water-meadows being drained).
At preserved sites where it still remains, such as Magdalen College Oxford,
it can be prolific.
It is also easy to grow as a garden flower.
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White flower in bud, showing snake's head shape |
Long thin leaves |