About

Leucocrinum montanum, commonly known as the common starlily, sandlily, or mountain lily, is the only species in the monotypic genus Leucocrinum, which was placed in the asparagus family in 2009. It is a common and widespread early spring wildflower on the shortgrass prairie, the central and southern Rocky Mountains, and the Intermountain West.

It is a low growing plant, no more than 10 centimeters (4 in) tall. The common starlily's flowers are also close to the ground with a floral tube that extends underground. The seed capsule develops beneath the surface of the soil with several different theories as to how the seeds are then distributed.

Where it grows

Starlily grows across much of the western United States with a range that estimated at between 200,000–2,500,000 square kilometers (77,000–965,000 sq mi). The eastern part of its range stretches from North Dakota to New Mexico in the shortgrass prairie. In North Dakota it is only recorded in two southwestern counties by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database (PLANTS), but grows through much of the southern two-thirds of Montana and even as far north as Flathead County. In Wyoming it mostly grows in the eastern half of the state, but also grows in Park County in the northwest. In South Dakota it grows only in the westernmost portion of the state as is the case in neighboring Nebraska. In Colorado it grows in the majority of the eastern plains, but also in some of the mountain and western counties. In New Mexico they are only found in a few areas in the northern part of the state.