Liliaceae, the lily family.
Plant: Leafless stalks 1'-4' high bear small clusters of large, orange, funnel-shaped flowers above linear, basal leaves. Perennial.
Flowers: Bright orange, funnel-shaped, 3"-4" wide, with three petals and three petal-like sepals, six long stamens, and a single long pistil. Flowers occur in small clusters of 3-15, usually opening one or two at a time, and lasting only one day, giving the common name.
Leaves: Basal, linear, to 2' long and 1" wide with a prominent central crease.
Fruit: A three-angled capsule, rarely bearing fertile seed.
Habitat: Woodland borders, clearings, roadsides.
A garden escape, introduced from Eurasia, and widely naturalized in North America.
The plant rarely sets seed, and spreads through the roots.
The flowers open for only one day, then shrivel and decay, hence the common name.
Several parts of the plant are edible; the flowers are used in a variety of Asian dishes, the
unopened buds may be cooked as a vegetable, the fleshy
rootstocks can likewise be cooked and eaten.
Where to find it:
Some grow between the woods and the parking lot; these may have been planted.
There is another patch somewhat hidden near one of the drainage pools between the
west branch of the pond and the commercial building parking lots.