Calochortus species

Calochortus is a genus of lilies which includes the Utah state flower, Sego lily or Calochortus nuttallii. This post is about two other species I found while hiking in Montana.

All calochortus species are known as mariposa lilies, and break with the usual lily pattern, in that the sepals and petals are not identical. The sepals, or outer three tepals, are smaller, while the petals, or inner three tepals, are larger and usually colorful, especially near the center.

Calochortus apiculatus

Calochortus apiculatus is a close relative of the more famous sego lily. Instead of multiple colors in the throat of the flower, like the sega lily, this species of mariposa lily is yellow and hairy in the center, with a black dot near the base of each petal, from which comes its common name, 3-spotted mariposa lily.

The bulbs can be difficult to dig up successfully, since the stem easily breaks off of it. I only have a success rate of around 50%, but I console myself by thinking that the bulbs I miss will grow again the next year.

The bulbs have several layers, first a dirty brown outer layer, then a lighter colored layer, then a shiny brown layer, and finally the white inner bulb. This white inner bulb is the good part, and is typically about a half-inch (or 1 centimeter) is diameter. The taste is crisp and slightly sweet, and reminds me of the taste of jicama root.

Calochortus elegans

Calochortus elegans is a smaller mariposa lily, known by the common name of Cat's Ear. It is also hairy down in the inner flower, but they are smaller in size and have purple markings on the lower portion of both the sepals and petals.

The taste of the bulb is the same as other mariposa lilies. The leaves are tough and grass-like, so not much fun to try to eat. The three-winged fruits are tender and taste good; they remind me somewhat of sweet-pea pods, but not as sweet. The unopened flower buds are also good, but the mature flowers taste a bit bitter to me.