noun
also dog's-tooth violet or dogtooth
: a plant of the genus Erythronium: as
a. : a European bulbous herb ( Erythronium denscanis ) with two mottled basal leaves and a solitary nodding purple flower appearing in early spring
b. : any of several related American spring-flowering plants: as
(1) : a yellow-flowered low-growing woodland plant ( E. americanum )
(2) : a white-flowered or pinkish purple-flowered plant ( E. albidum ) of similar habit