Erythronium pluriflorum

It is endemic to California, in the central Sierra Nevada within eastern Madera County. It is known only from isolated populations on Chiquito Ridge and Shuteye Peak, in the San Joaquin River watershed.[4][5] It is listed as an endangered species by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and IUCN, and is on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.[4]

The plant was not described until 1991.[2][6][7][8]

Erythronium pluriflorum is a wildflower growing from a bulb 4 to 7 centimeters wide. It produces two oval-shaped green leaves.

It erects thin, naked stalks which may be 8 to over 30 centimeters tall, each stalk bearing one to ten flowers. The flower has bright yellow curly tepals each one to three centimeters long which age to a brown or orange color. The other flower parts are also yellow.[3]

This species is listed as imperiled due to a combination of factors. Firstly, its historic range is quite small. Erythronium pluriflorum is known from only six populations, all within the Sierra National Forest. Disruption from camping is a threat. However, climate change is the greatest threat to this species "as its habitat requirements include a sliver of area in the subalpine Sierra Nevadas."[9]

• Calflora Database: Erythronium pluriflorum (Manyflower fawnlily, Shuteye peak fawn lily)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Erythronium pluriflorum
• UC CalPhotos gallery: Erythronium pluriflorum