It is even more often called "False Hellebore" because it resembles European Hellebores -- but it is not a Hellebore.  

    It is commonly called "Corn Lily" because it is hard to look at without thinking "Corn".  It is not related to Corn, and William Weber does not classify it as a Lily.  

    Common names definitely produce problems.

    Linnaeus originated the genus name Veratrum in 1753 and Elias Durand named the species Veratrum californicum in 1855 from a specimen collected by Pratten near Nevada City, California in 1854.  Amos Heller named the species Veratrum tenuipetalum in 1905.

     "Veratrum" is Latin for "true black", referring to the black rhizomes (roots) of plants in this genus.  "Tenu" is Latin for "thin" or "slender" and "petalum" is Greek for "a leaf" or "spread out flat" and refers to the spreading leaves of Veratrum tenuipetalum  --  which, however, are certainly neither "thin" nor "slender".  Scientific names can also be confusing. 

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, June 25, 2005.

Veratrum tenuipetalum most often grows in dense colonies in high mountain meadows.  Here the trail cuts through Veratrum tenuipetalum on the way to Navajo Lake (tucked in a high valley behind 14,000 foot El Diente, the peak at the top, middle of the picture).

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, June 17, 2005.

Veratrum tenuipetalum is very distinctive and very common.  Early in the spring it appears in mountain meadows as a green, tightly packed cluster of leaves pushing through moist soils.  Depending on the moisture it receives, it then erupts into a three-to-six foot tall corn-like plant topped with a long flower spike of white and green flowers.  In dry seasons it is common to find no plants in flower.  Veratrum tenuipetalum spreads from underground roots and is thus not exclusively dependent on seeds for reproduction.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Echo Basin Loop Road, June 7, 2004.

Corn Lily's leaves are deeply pleated and veined, with pointed tips; leaves clasp the main stem with a nearly vertical posture.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 11, 2005.

Corn Lily's flower head of hundreds of flowers is raggedy and flowers overlap in various stages of bloom and wither.

Synonym: Melanthiaceae (False Hellebore Family).  Liliaceae (Lily Family).

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, July 11, 2005.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, August 31, 2004.

In mid and late summer, sunny browns and yellows predominate before Corn Lily falls and turns to dull, decaying tans.