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Clintonia borealis (Aiton) Raf.

Yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderLilialesIncludes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others
FamilyLiliaceaeLilly family
GenusClintoniaAfter De Witt Clinton (1769-1828), a naturalist and governor of New York
SpeciesborealisNorthern

About plant names...

Yellow blue-bead lily—or whatever you want to call it, since this common species has lots of names—is so named for its pretty yellow flowers and deep, almost metallic blue berries. They occur in New England and temperate regions of the eastern United States, in hardwood forests. They seem to have a special affinity for mountains and swampy areas.

Plants: 1′ (30 cm) in height, with a central stem and basal leaves.

Leaves: Oblong, ovate, or elliptic, 6-12″ (15-30 cm) in length. Each leaf is glossy, with a central vein running the length of the leaf, and parallel lines on either side.

Flowers: Umbels (bell-shaped), in groups of two to six, each up to 1″ (2.5 cm). Each flower has six tepals and six long stamens, as well as a long style. They are nodding.

Fruits: Berries ¼-⅜″ (8-12 mm) in diameter, round or oval, with a rich shiny blue color.

Edibility: Young leaves are edible. The delicious-looking berries are not though—they are mildly toxic, and they taste bad.

Medical: The roots contain diosgenin, a saponin steroid with estrogenic effects.

Online References:

Minnesota Wildflowers

The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu

Wikipedia

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

4/21/2021 · Center Pond Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/17/2021 · Bijhouwer Forest, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2015 · Mt. Kearsarge, Wilmot/Warner, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/9/2016 · Rachel Carson Interpretive Trail, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/9/2016 · Rachel Carson Interpretive Trail, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2015 · Mt. Kearsarge, Wilmot/Warner, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2015 · Mt. Kearsarge, Wilmot/Warner, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (79 × 53 cm)

Dracaena borealis Aiton

 

Clintonia borealis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Oct 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/9/2016 · Rachel Carson Interpretive Trail, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Ver­mont · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/15/2016 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

5/25/2023 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Clintonia borealis (yellow clintonia, bluebead lily, blue-bead lily, clintonia, Clinton's lily, corn lily, cow tongue, yellow beadlily, yellow bluebeadlily, snakeberry, dogberry, straw lily)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Range:

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