Any of the approximately 20 species of spring-blooming plants that make up the genus Erythronium , in the lily family , all native to North America except for the purple-or pink-flowered dogtooth violet of Europe ( E. dens-canis ).
The nodding flowers, usually one to a plant or in small clusters, range in colour from white to purple. The two leaves, borne at the base of the plant, often are covered with white or brown spots. The common dogtooth violet of North America, E. americanum , has yellow flowers and brown-mottled leaves. Several species are grown as rock-garden ornamentals.