Yellow Fritillary (Fritillaria pudica)
Description
Fritillaria pudica (yellow fritillary) is a small perennial plant found in the sagebrush country in the western United States (Idaho,Montana,Oregon,Washington,Wyoming,very northern California,Nevada,northwestern Colorado,North Dakota and Utah) and Canada (Alberta and British Columbia). 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.During his historical journey Meriwether Lewis collected a specimen while passing through Idaho in 1806.Fritillaria pudica 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 plants are not common so digging and eating the bulbs should be reserved for emergencies.The plant is called _s_kni in Sahaptin.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Liliales
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Family: Liliaceae
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Genus: Fritillaria
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