Mariposa lily, Gunnison mariposa
Calochortus gunnisonii
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A bulb plant.
There are about 60-100 Calochortus species. There are 7-9 species in tropical America. They have also been put in the family Calochortaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is widespread in the Rocky mountains in the USA. It grows in grassland and open pine forests. It usually grows between 1,000-3,300 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The fresh bulbs are eaten raw with salt. They can be fried or baked. They can be dried and pounded into flour for porridge. The flower buds are eaten raw in salads. The seeds are ground into flour and eaten.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root, bulb, seeds