Wild Flowers of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Cedar Breaks National Monument

Part 1

WILD FLOWERS of Zion and Bryce Canyon NATIONAL PARKS and Cedar Breaks NATIONAL MONUMENT

Text and Color Photographs by CARL E. JEPSON Chief Park Naturalist and LELAND F. ALLEN Park Naturalist

Published and Copyright 1958 by ZION-BRYCE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION in cooperation with the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UTAH

INTRODUCTION

In these areas of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Cedar Breaks National Monument, four life zones are found extending from low elevations of near 3,600 feet to extremes of over 11,300 feet. The area within elevations from the lowest point to 4,000 feet is the Lower Sonoran Zone; above that to 7,000 feet is the Upper Sonoran Zone; from 7,000 to 8,500 feet is the Transition Zone; above that to 10,000 feet is the Canadian Zone; and from 10,000 feet to the highest point on Brian Head Peak is the Hudsonian Zone.

Native plants typical of desert, mesa and mountain grow within these extremes of elevation and include a wide variety of species. Of the three areas featured, Cedar Breaks National Monument contains the greatest variety, and frequently exhibits marvelous displays, depending on the amount of rainfall from year to year.

The purpose of this booklet is to help visitors in their enjoyment of the flowers they find along the roadways and trails—flowers they observe, appreciate and probably photograph but leave UNPICKED for the pleasure of others.

Through the mediums of color photography and color lithography one hundred and six species of wild flowers and plants most commonly seen are presented in closeup detail as an aid to identification. Brief descriptions of size, habitat, blooming period, use, economic value and other details are given.

The flowers have been arranged in a general order of families, except that occasionally, for the convenience of preparing the color plates, flowers of similar color or density have been grouped on a page although they are not in the same family nor closely related.

The Standardized Plant Names of the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature has been followed as the guide. In case of locally used common names, such has been indicated in the text.

This booklet on Wild Flowers has been produced by the Zion-Bryce Natural History Association in cooperation with the National Park Service. The Association has for its objective the fuller interpretation of the scenic, scientific, aesthetic and historic values of these National Parks, to the end that park visitors are provided with such information, audio and visual aids as will help them gain a better understanding and greater appreciation of the phenomena they find in them.

It is hoped that this brief treatise on the flora may prove helpful to many visitors in learning more about some of the important species of plant life that they may discover during their visits to the Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Credit for the photographic work goes to several individuals, all members of the interpretive staffs of these areas during the past few years. Park Naturalists Carl E. Jepson and Leland F. Allen have prepared the descriptive information given for each flower.

The printing and color processing by the Wheelwright Lithographing Company, 975 So. West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah.

1. SEGOLILY MARIPOSA Lily Family Calochortus nuttallii

The Segolily Mariposa was chosen as the State Flower of Utah probably because of the important use early pioneers made of the root bulbs of this plant in supplementing their meager diets during the early settlement period. The name “Sego” (pronounced see-go) is of Shoshonean origin, and this flower was sacred in Indian legend long before the arrival of Utah pioneers in 1847.

This plant is found in rather dry, rocky soils and puts on a very showy display during May and June. It is more commonly known as the Mariposa Lily in other sections of the country, but in Utah it is called the Segolily.

There are three species in color of white, pink and yellow found in the Zion Region.

2. YELLOW MARIPOSA Lily Family Calochortus nuttallii var. aureus

Found only in the petrified forest of the Coalpits Wash section of Zion National Park, this plant is not very abundant and probably suffered from overgrazing by livestock during the settlement period before Zion became a National Park.

Mariposa in Spanish means butterfly.

This species with bright-yellow flowers is associated with a specific geologic stratum—the Petrified Forest member of the Chinle formation. It is found in great abundance in the Petrified Forest National Monument near Holbrook, Arizona.

3. PRAIRIE SPIDERWORT Spiderwort Family Tradescantia occidentalis

In the sandy areas at elevations above 4,000 feet you may find this pretty, three-petaled, deep-blue flower on its slender stalk about a foot or more in height blooming early in June. The flowers bloom at night, so are not easily found except early in the mornings. The plant is fairly abundant along the Narrows Trail, the East Rim Trail and near the East Entrance Station of Zion National Park.

Indians used the entire plant for food.

4. BLUEDICKS Lily Family Dichelostemma pulchellum

This bright-blue flower, on its long, slender stalk, has a number of common names, such as Wild Hyacinth, Grass Nuts and Spanish Lily. The bulb of this plant has a nutty flavor. It was gathered by the Indians and early pioneers for food in some sections of the country. It is found sparingly in good soil areas.

5. PURPLESPOT FRITILLARY Lily Family Fritillaria atropurpurea

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A rather rare lily sometimes called Leopard Lily or Bronze Bell. Its drooping flowers on fairly tall stems are found growing in the Sagebrush areas or in alpine meadows. As they are not very conspicuous, they are often overlooked by visitors. The petals, with their mottled effect in brown, yellow and purple spots, present a remarkable pattern of beauty when observed closely. The odor of the plant is not pleasing to humans, but is no doubt attractive to insects.

6. FINELEAF YUCCA Lily Family Yucca angustissima

The name “Our Lord’s Candlestick” was given to this tall, conspicuous plant of the desert by the early Spanish Padres, who were the first white men to see this region of Southern Utah. During May and June the waxy-white flowers bloom on tall stalks and soon mature into rather large seed pods.

Indians made very good use of all parts of the plant. Its fiber was used for making sandals and clothing, the seeds provided food, and the roots were used for making soap. The Navajo Indian called it Yaybi-tsa-si, which means literally “Yucca of the Gods.”

7. MOUNTAIN DEATHCAMAS Lily Family Zigadenus elegans

An onion-like plant with a long, loose cluster of small, creamy-white flowers. Its root is shaped much like that of the onion, but is odorless. The plant is poisonous to man and beast. Deathcamas is found mostly in meadows or wet places on the plateaus where it presents a serious danger to grazing cattle and sheep. At Cedar Breaks it blooms during July and August and is fairly common in the alpine meadows.

8. WILD BUCKWHEAT Buckwheat Family Eriogonum umbellatum

Wild Buckwheat is commonly associated with Sagebrush and arid regions of the West. Many species of the genus are found blooming throughout the summer season.

The spreading branches grow close to the ground and help reduce erosion, and the yearly accumulation of leaves adds humus to the soil. The flower head at the top of single stalks, with its many-branched, dense cluster in a lacy pattern, makes a fine floral display of yellow. The flowers are important to the honey bee, and the ripened seeds are diligently sought by the chipmunks, other rodents and several birds.

9. GREEN EPHEDRA Jointfir Family Ephedra viridis

Not a very showy plant with its pale-green stems, very small leaves and inconspicuous flowers. It is probably of greatest interest because of the use made of the plant by early pioneers in brewing a tea, which served as a tonic for various ailments. It was commonly called Brigham Tea, Squaw Tea or, more generally, Mormon tea.

The plant is a relative of the Pines and Firs and is very able to withstand drouth. It is found fairly abundantly in the Sagebrush and Saltbush areas of the Upper Sonoran Zone.

The drug ephedrine is obtained from some of the species of Ephedra found in China.

10. FOURWING SALTBUSH Goosefoot Family Atriplex canescens

A silvery-green, profusely branched shrub growing two to five feet high with conspicuous clusters (in late summer) of four-winged seeds about the same color as the leaves. It is very common in the Sonoran Zones and abundant in the alkaline flats of the Great Basin of Utah. In the lower portion of Zion Canyon it is abundant and often taken to be Sagebrush, which it resembles to some extent.

This plant is of value as forage for livestock, and deer feed upon it to a limited extent.

11. CALYPSO ORCHID Orchid Family Calypso bulbosa

If you travel to the mountains early in June or July, you may be lucky enough to find this beautiful flower, the dainty Calypso or Fairy Slipper Orchid, as it blooms in the dense woods of Spruce and Pine or in the deep canyons along shady streams at elevations above 6,000 feet. The flowers grow singly on stems 4 to 6 inches high and have only one large leaf. The plant takes part of its food from decaying wood or other organic matter.

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