Fritillaria meleagris
Pendulous lily flower with chequered pattern - purple or white forms. Flowers April-May. It is a member of the lily family and many local names reflect this origin (e.g. Oaksey lily, Leper lily).
Distribution
Snake’s head fritillary is now a rare plant found on less than 30 sites in the UK. It cannot tolerate grazing in spring and so relies on the meadow system for survival.
Soil moisture tolerances
It is found on sites with more than 20 weeks dry soil per year and 10-20 weeks wet. So it is quite tolerant of drought conditions, and slightly less tolerant of water logging.
Soil fertility tolerances
It is typically found on moderately fertile sites (10-25 mg P/kg) or P index 1-2.
Traditional medicinal use
Other names are chequers, Oaksey lily, Leper’s bells and Sulky ladies
