Common names:
Yellow fritillary, yellow bells
Scientific name:
Fritillaria Pudica
Range:
From the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rocky Mountains
Habitat:
Meadows, open coniferous woodland, scrub, sagebrush, from near sea level to 7,000 feet
Leaves:
Basal, linear to narrowly lanceolate, greyish-green, up to 8 inches long and 0.5 inches across; two to eight in number
Flowers of fritillaria pudica are solitary (occasionally paired), borne atop a thick, leafless stalk, and are nodding. The six tepals overlap, arranged in the shape of a bell, enclosing the one pistil and six stamens, which have white filaments and pale yellow anthers. The pistil is topped by a disc-shaped stigma. Tepals become dark red as they age, and curl outwards. Flowers are around 0.8 inches long.
Plants inhabit mountainous regions and flower soon after the snowmelt, at progressively higher elevations through the season.