Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)

Glacier Lily, Horsetail Falls, Alpine, Utah, David Kenison.  Click to enlarge.

The Glacier Lily is also known as the yellow avalanche lily, yellow fawn lily, dogtooth fawn lily, and dogtooth violet. It's found in sub-alpine settings throughout the western US and Canada. They often sprout and bloom soon after the snow melts in the early spring.

It grows from a bulb that was prized by Native Americans as a food source, and is often eaten by bears; mule dear eat the foliage. Most plants have two wavy green leaves. The stalks typically are 10-12 inches tall and bear one to three bright yellow flowers, on a bent stem with stamen and antlers pointed downwards. The six petals and sepals curl upward and inward.

The Glacier Lily was observed and recorded by the Lewis & Clark Expedition on June 15, 1806, on the Lolo Trail, Idaho.

These photos were taken by the author along the trail to Horsetail Falls above Alpine, Utah on 4/24/14. Click on photos to view enlargements.

Additional links for the Glacier Lily:
Wild Utah Index
USDA flower index