Glacier Lily
Also called: Yellow Avalanche-lily
Erythronium grandiflorum
Perenial Herb
Often the first flower to appear in the spring, this lily grows in meadows in the high country, along hillsides and is often on the edge of the snow melt. It can be found in the western United states and Canada from BC to New Mexico.
Erythronium grandiflorum
Perenial Herb
Often the first flower to appear in the spring, this lily grows in meadows in the high country, along hillsides and is often on the edge of the snow melt. It can be found in the western United states and Canada from BC to New Mexico.
DESCRIPTION:
Flower
The flower is lemon-yellow appears at the end of a stem that is 6 - 12 inches tall. The petals are six in number and flow backwards like a shooting star. The inside of the flower head consists of white, red or yellow stamens which shoot forward. One to three flowers hangs at the end of each stalk.
Flower
The flower is lemon-yellow appears at the end of a stem that is 6 - 12 inches tall. The petals are six in number and flow backwards like a shooting star. The inside of the flower head consists of white, red or yellow stamens which shoot forward. One to three flowers hangs at the end of each stalk.
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WHOLE PLANT:
Stem and Leaves
The stem is singular and woody, growing straight out of a double pair of leaves at ground height. Those leaves are lance like and green and can reach as tall as the flower. The leaves and seedpods are both edible, though some say the flavor is not great.
Root
The roots are called Corms and are rich in dietary fiber and starch. They are a favorite food of black bears and grizzlies as well as elk and big horn sheep, and they can be eaten by humans as well, raw or cooked.
Stem and Leaves
The stem is singular and woody, growing straight out of a double pair of leaves at ground height. Those leaves are lance like and green and can reach as tall as the flower. The leaves and seedpods are both edible, though some say the flavor is not great.
Root
The roots are called Corms and are rich in dietary fiber and starch. They are a favorite food of black bears and grizzlies as well as elk and big horn sheep, and they can be eaten by humans as well, raw or cooked.
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WHERE TO FIND IT:
Hillsides or mountain meadows at high elevations, often appearing at the edge of the snow melt.
Hillsides or mountain meadows at high elevations, often appearing at the edge of the snow melt.
WHEN TO FIND IT:
As the snow melts in the spring at higher elevations.
As the snow melts in the spring at higher elevations.
MEDICINAL AND EDIBLE PROPERTIES:
- Glacier Lilies are edible in limited quantities, though they don't always taste great. You can eat the leaves, flowers, seed pods or roots. The roots can be boiled or eaten raw and are very nutritious. They are a favorite of dear, elk, bear and mountain goats and they were a stand by for many native people during the winter months.
- Native people used to use the plant for reducing fever, swelling and infection, as well as as a contraceptive.
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Exert from Christie's book, Meanwhile, I Keep Dancing, published November 2024:
Life is hard. Spring was starting to show its face, even at the ranch, which sits at a high elevation where winter holds on long and hard. Snow and ice were finally melting and the horses were beginning to shed their winter coats. As Dave and I drove home from town I watched eagerly out the window to see if any of the early wildflowers had appeared yet. “Oh look!” I cried at the bright yellow bells I finally caught sight of. “It's…” my mind blanked on the words, as it had been doing increasingly these days. “Glacier Lilies.” Dave supplied. I looked at him in surprise, a smile creeping across my face. “How did you know that?” I asked, “You don’t care about wildflowers.” He glanced at me before turning back to the road. “No,” he said, “But I care about you. And you wait for them every year and you’re always happy when you finally see them. So of course I know their names.” And just like that life doesn’t seem so hard anymore. |