Fritillaria pudica

(Pursh) Sprengel

Syst. Veg. 2: 64. 1825.

Common names: Yellow fritillary
IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Lilium pudicum Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 228, plate 8. 1814
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 170. Mentioned on page 165, 167, 171.

Bulb scales: large 4–5; small 85–125. Stem 0.7–3 dm. Leaves 2–8, subopposite to scattered, 3–20 cm; blade linear to lanceolate. Flowers nodding; tepals yellow to orange, some lined brown, aging to brick red, 0.8–2.2 cm; nectaries near base of tepals, green, elliptic to round; style unbranched. Capsules angled. 2n = 24, 26.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun.
Habitat: Grassy, shrubby, or wooded slopes
Elevation: 0–2100 m

Distribution

V26 296-distribution-map.jpg

B.C., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Fritillaria pudica is highly variable and has one of the widest distributions of all the North American species of the genus. It was commonly used as food by Native Americans. The small bulbs were often eaten raw, and the larger ones were either dried or cooked in various ways. The Okanogan-Colville tribe used the appearance of F. pudica flowers as a sign that spring had arrived, and the Shuswap tribe used them in bouquets.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.