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Snake’s head fritillary

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
Further information: 

Click here for a link to the online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora with details of the plant ecology, distribution, photos and habitats: https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/fritillaria-meleagris