Fritillaries

Fritillaries is a common name applied to two distinct groups in different kingdoms: flowering plants of the genus Fritillaria and a group of butterflies known as fritillaries.

In plants, Fritillaria is a genus of bulbous perennial flowers in the lily family (Liliaceae, or Asparagaceae in some classifications). The genus comprises about 100 species native to temperate regions of Eurasia and the Middle East, with many cultivated as ornamentals. Fritillarias typically grow from bulbs and produce tall flowering stalks with lance-shaped leaves and nodding, bell- or cup-shaped flowers arranged along a raceme. Notable species include Fritillaria meleagris, the checkered lily or guinea-hen flower, valued for its purple-brown checker pattern; and Fritillaria imperialis, the crown imperial, known for large, pendant flower clusters. They prefer well-drained soil and can be grown in borders or rock gardens; some species require a winter chill, and many bulbs are poisonous if ingested by humans or pets.

In butterflies, fritillaries refer to several genera within the family Nymphalidae, commonly Boloria, Speyeria, Fabriciana, and Argynnis. These butterflies are typically medium-sized, with brown, orange, and black wing patterns and often pale or checkered undersides. They inhabit meadows, damp grasslands, and woodland clearings, and their life cycles usually involve eggs laid on or near violet plants (Viola) or related hosts; larvae feed on violets and overwinter in various stages. Adults nectar at flowers and are active mainly in spring to summer, depending on species. Many fritillary species are sensitive to habitat loss and are monitored or targeted by conservation efforts in Europe and North America.