Minnesota dwarf trout lily

Erythronium propullans is a perennial growing from a small bulb. It has smaller flowers than E. albidum, often only 1 cm long with a pinkish tint to them. The fruits are also smaller than those of E. albidum, with the mature fruits nodding. Offshoots are produced by flowering plants grow from the stem above the bulbs unlike E. albidum which are produced from the bulbs. Erythronium propullans produces one stolon below the soil surface on the midway point of the stem on blooming plants; that stolon then produces a new bulb. On non-blooming plants, 1 to 3 stolons are produced directly from the bulbs, each ending in a new clone.

Erythronium propullans is found only in two counties in Minnesota (the only strictly endemic plant species in the state.) It is typically a woodland species most commonly found on north-facing slopes above or near streambeds. It is found in areas with dense shade in the summer, but completes its growing period early in the year before trees are fully leafed out.

Research suggests that E. propullans rarely reproduces from seed on its own, but is highly dependent on vegetative reproduction, or limited cross pollination with Erythronium albidum, thus limiting population growth and spread of the species.