Fritillaria pudica

Fritillaria pudica (Yellow Fritillary) is a small, charming plant of sagebrush country in the western U.S. 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. The plant is called [skni] in Sahaptin.