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Trout Lillies

This is a reply to the trout lilly question.  I am not a prairie expert, I'm 
new to this group.  I looked in Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers a field guide, 
a Nature Conservancy book. Quote:  
PRAIRIE TROUT LILY
Erythronium mesochoreum 
Lily family (Liliaceae)
Description: Soft, hairless plants with a pair of basal leaves flanking a 
taller bare stalk with a single nodding flower at the top.  The leaves feel 
somewhat waxy and are typically 3-6" long and up to 1 1/4" wide, broadest 
near the middle, with pointed tips and sheathing bases.  The leaves are 
strongly folded along their lengths.  The flowers are up to 2" wide, with 6 
spreading, pointed, petal-like segments that are often purplish on the back, 
6 protruding yellow stamens, and a protruding white style.  The fruits are 
green 3-lobed capsules that usually lie on the ground.
Early-midspring.
Habital/Range:  Common in dry to mesic prairies and occasional in open, sunny 
woodlands; found in the southern tallgrass region from eastern Nebraska east 
into Illinois.
Comments: White Trout Lily (E. albidum) is a closely related woodland species 
that sometimes occurs in prairies.  It has flat to slightly folded leaves 
that are mottled with purple, petals and sepals bent strongly backward, and 
fruiting capsules held nearly erect.  Both plants are also called White 
Dog-Tooth Violet.

I own 120 acres of timber in south central Iowa and have seen them blooming 
in the woods for 2 weekends.  Today in a walk through a neighbors 
CRP/prairie/grassy area I came upon an area that had a scattering of these 
flowers also, I was quite surprised and felt it was my flower find of the 
weekend.  In case anyone has interest:  the Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, 
and field cat's foot has been blooming for several weekends.  

My question to this group is how can I find out what was growing on this CRP 
land 150 years ago?  Do I assume it was timber since it is surrounded by 
timberland now?  
Thanks.
Peggy Hutchison
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