Fritillaria meleagris
The flower has a chequered reddish-brown, purple, white and grey colouration, sometimes mostly white. It flowers from March to May and grows between 15 and 40 cm in height. It has a round bulb, about 2 cm in diameter which contains poisonous alkaloids.
The plant is commonly found growing in grasslands in damp soils and river meadows. It can be found at altitudes up to 800 metres.

A little known site in the heart of Oxford is home to a massive population of a rare but iconic wild flower which used to be abundant in Britain – the snake's-head fritillary. This petite, purple and white flower carpets the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Iffley Meadows during April and the beginning of May. To check the status of the flowers, every year Trust staff and volunteers count the plants on site. Looking like a scene from a crime scene drama, they slowly inch along in line, counting every flower they see. The results are now in for this year’s survey and we can now confirm the good news that there are over 42,000 plants on site this year!

Wow, such a cool flower, you captured it very well. love the post ilikethat · 2011-03-26: 05:51

How beautiful - what an amazing flower! jet28 · 2011-03-26: 05:51

Awesome flowers shots !! finbarr · 2011-03-26: 06:32

Oh these are probably my most favourite flower...and what a lovely thought for Laci - fabulous post Sadhya cariad · 2011-03-26: 06:47

Mine is still flowering. Great shots Lynda · 2011-03-26: 07:10

Wonderful flowers. I love the pattern on the petals. It looks like a checkerboard noptek · 2011-03-26: 09:08

Gorgeous shots and great shots !!!:)) nadoune · 2011-03-26: 09:31

What a gorgeous plant!! And your photos really show them off! I'm so glad to open PB this morning and read good news about Laci. :)) DancingDolphin · 2011-03-26: 11:08

How wonderful is this flower! I've never seen anything like it before and the information was great too! darfoster · 2011-03-26: 11:39

Nice flower! Goldbrandi · 2011-03-26: 13:17

Beautiful! Love the color and all the different angles you found! lookagain · 2011-03-26: 13:22

Gorgeous flowers!!! wildduck · 2011-03-26: 13:44

A great tribute as a hope for survival and thriving. Unbelievable pattern. redro · 2011-03-26: 15:40

So original flowers! Beautiful post. JumiElla · 2011-03-26: 16:11

Beautiful flower and shots! dontblink · 2011-03-26: 17:43

How interesting, so beautiful and unique! beeacooker · 2011-03-26: 19:21

That Trust Staff may be on the chopping block with all the economic woes these days! I have never seen this plant before! So gorgeous and unusual! #5 to my favs! Well done Sadhya! jeffcornish · 2011-03-26: 21:42

Beautiful set Sadhya - I'm inspired to go and shoot some swamp cabbage for you - don't know much about it, but I'll try to get info before I post poshrat · 2011-03-26: 22:23

Well captured, Sadhya! You have gone all around the flower, which has meant that we have a full view of the flower. Thank you for dedicating it to Laci. Hope he's well! Jothindra · 2011-03-26: 22:38

amazing flowers :) great post! opary · 2011-03-26: 23:31

this is amazing..don't think my country have this flower..beautiful :) kimilaren · 2011-03-27: 01:42

Beautiful flowers shots! sachiko · 2011-03-27: 10:15

In love with 1,2 and 4 ... awesome! Patricia132 · 2011-03-27: 13:14

I'm also too glad laci is ok :) i've chatted with him, I can't wait to see him back on the crowd :) ^^ onlyricky · 2011-03-28: 20:29

Gorgeous flower and wonderful news:))) nssco50 · 2011-03-29: 00:06

Awesome Great macro, details and colours :) helys · 2011-03-29: 03:23

I have never seen a checkered flower! love it! paulamarquis · 2011-03-31: 22:24

Superb! wildduck · 2011-04-02: 13:18