Liliaceae FAMILY

Calochortus gunnisonii

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Calochortus gunnisonii is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of grass-like basal leaves 18 - 35cm long from an underground bulb. A flowering stem 24 - 55cm long is produced as the leaves wither[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant was a traditional food of the native N. Americans and often eaten in quantity. It is grown as an ornamental, valued for its attractive flowers.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-western N. America - Montana to South Dakota, south to Arizona and New Mexico

HabitatGrassy hillsides and open coniferous woods[ 60 Title Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Publication Author Hitchcock. C. L. Publisher University of Washington Press Year 1955 ISBN - Description A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader. ]. Found in a variety of habitats from moist meadows and open woods to sandy and rocky hillsides and dry gulches; at elevations from 1,200 - 3,300 metres[ 214 Title The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Publication Author Matthews. V. Publisher Royal Horticultural Society Year 1994 ISBN 1352-4186 Description A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp. ].