Sego lily, Sago-Lilly, Mariposa Lilly, Nuttall's mariposa lily
Calochortus nuttallii
Family: Liliaceae
What it is like
A bulb plant. The stems can be 10-40 cm long. They bear 1-5 flowers. They are open cup shaped. The flowers can be a range of colours.
There are about 60-100 Calochortus species. There are 7-9 species in tropical America. It is the state flower of Utah. They have also been put in the family Calochortaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It can grow in the desert.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America, USA
How it is used for food
The bulb is boiled and roasted then made into flour. It can be eaten raw or fried. They can be dried and stored. The flowers and flower buds are added to tossed salads. The seed are ground into meal.
The corms are popular.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root, bulb, seeds