Definition

Noun: * A perennial herb (Fritillaria affinis) native to northwestern North America, characterized by its bell-shaped flowers which are typically checkered or mottled with shades of green and purple or brown.

Usage

• The rice-grain fritillary is a distinctive wildflower found in grassy meadows and open woodlands.
• Botanists study the unique patterning on the petals of the rice-grain fritillary.

Advanced Usage

• The species name for the rice-grain fritillary, , indicates its relationship to other fritillary species.
• Conservation efforts sometimes focus on habitats supporting the rice-grain fritillary as an indicator species.

Variants and Related Words

• Checker Lily: A common name for the same plant, referring to the checkered pattern on its flowers.
• Mission Bells: Another common name for this species.
• Fritillary: The broader genus () to which this plant belongs, encompassing many species with similar bell-shaped, often checkered flowers.

Synonyms

• Checker Lily
• Mission Bells
• (scientific name)

Different Meanings

• The word "fritillary" can also refer to a type of butterfly (family Nymphalidae), but in the compound term "rice-grain fritillary," it exclusively refers to the plant. The "rice-grain" modifier likely describes the size or shape of the plant's bulbils or seeds.

Noun

1. herb of northwestern America having green-and-purple bell-shaped flowers