The Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus spp.) are up in California! I find these are some of the most iconic wildflowers of California as the majority are found here, and the flowers are so beautifully distinct—the genus meaning “beautiful grass”, and common name comparing them to butterflies. However, the Mariposa Lilies can be found in other western states.
Besides having a beautiful flower, the bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans either raw or boiled, as well as the young flower buds. They were also a food source for Mormon settlers in the mid-1850’s on their move west and when crop failures threatened famine.
#mariposalily #ethnobotany #ethnopharm #edibleplants #wildflowers #california #mormon