Fritillaria pudica
Fritillaria pudica is a small perennial plant found in the sagebrush country in the western United States and Canada. It is a member of the lily family, or Liliaceae. Another common name is "yellow bells", 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 historic 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 is not encouraged. The plant is called in Sahaptin.
