Leucocrinum montanum, commonly known as the
sand lily,
starlily or
mountain lily, is the only species in the monotypic genus
Leucocrinum. It is a
perennial plant native to western North America growing to 0.2 meters that flowers in late spring and early summer. The flowers are
monoecious. Early in spring, the waxy-white flowers arise from a cluster of leaves that look much like a tuft of grass. Then, by midsummer, the plant disappears completely from the surface and lies dormant underground through the hottest part of the year. Unlike most lilies,
L. montanum has fleshy finger-like roots instead of a bulb.
External links