Category: wildlife

Do you know about the Glacier Lily? This species is known as Glacier Lily because it often appears at the edge of receding snow banks. It is often mistaken for the Fawn Lily (of variety candidum). The stem of the Glacier Lily often changes from green to a deep rust color. All parts of this plant are edible; foliage is a favorite of wildlife including deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. Bears use their claws to dig out the edible bulbs, which can be boiled or dried and used in stews and other dishes. Ground squirrels and other rodents dig up the bulbs and store the for winter consumption. Other common names include Trout Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, and Adder’s Tongue.

Do you know about the Grass Widow? (Sisyrnchium Inflatum)? The Grass Widow is a member of the Iris family. This plant does well in the slightly acidic soil deposited by needles of the Ponderosa pine found around the base of the tree. Grass Widows compete with the Buttercup to be the first bloomer in the Spring. There is only one species of Grass Widow in the West, with two varieties: inflatum, found mostly to the East of the Cascades, and douglasii, found mostly to the West of the Cascades.

Do you know about Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus Glaberrimus)? There are over 80 varieties of buttercups, and most are very hard to tell apart. This species, native in Eastern Washington, usually blooms in April and is poisonous when eaten raw; however, its seeds were ground into meal or flour as a traditional food source. Buttercups also provide an important source of food for the Blue Grouse, a species of forest-dwelling bird native to the Rocky Mountains.

Another fun fact: Buttercups are heliotropic, which means their flowers follow the sun over the course of the day. Have you seen flowers in your neighborhood? CLICK HERE to check out Weekly Challenge #1 from Dishman Hills Conservancy!

The Sagebrush Buttercup