| Fritillaria pudica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Genus: | Fritillaria |
| Species: | F. pudica |
| Binomial name | |
| Fritillaria pudica (Pursh) Sprengel |
|
Fritillaria pudica (Yellow Fritillary) is a small, charming plant of sagebrush country in the western U.S and Canada. It is a member of the Lily family, or Liliaceae. Another (somewhat ambiguous) name is "yellowbells", since it has a bell-shaped yellow flower. It may be found in dryish, loose soil; it is amongst the first plants to flower after the snow melts, but the flower does not last very long; as the petals age, they turn a brick-red colour and begin to curl outward.
This lily produces a small bulb, which can be dug up and eaten fresh or cooked; it served Native Americans as a good source of food in times past, and is still eaten occasionally. Today these lovely plants are nowhere common so digging and eating the bulbs should be reserved for emergencies. The plant is called [ˈsɨkni] in Sahaptin.
Media related to Fritillaria pudica at Wikimedia Commons