Edible Sierra Nevada Plants
Monocotyledon Genera Descriptions

How To Use The Descriptions For Further Research

You may research other species listed by selecting the italicized links.
You can press each picture to see where it is credited to and, in many cases, to see other pictures of the species.
You can also check out other information that I have included under each picture.


Liliaceae - Lily Family


Mariposa-lily

Calochortus albus, C. amoenus, C. coeruleus,
C. invenustus, C. leichtlinii, C. marcocarpus,
C. minimus, C. nudus, C. superbus, C. venustus

The bulbs are edible raw or cooked or dried and ground into flour. The seeds are also edible. These plants possess one of the most beautiful flowers in the Sierra and should be eaten only in emergencies.

Calochortus superbus
Cal Flora Record


Camas

Camassia leichtlinii, C. quamash breviflora

Bulbs are edible and best when steamed for 24 hours. Care should be taken in collecting the bulbs, for death-camas (Zigadenus) will often be found in the same location.

Cammassia quamash ssp. breviflora
Cal Flora Record


Soap Plant

Chlorogalum pomeridianum

The bulbs may be roasted and eaten, uncooked they have lather producing qualities.


Cal Flora Record


Fairy Bells

Disporum hookeri var. trachyandrum

Berries are edible and sweet.


Cal Flora Record


Adder's Tongue/Fawn Lily

Erythronium purpurascens

Corm and herbage is toxic when raw but edible after cooking.


Cal Flora Record


Lily

Lilium humboldtii, L. kellyanum, L. pardalinum,
L. parvum, L. washingtonianum

The bulbs of all species are edible raw or cooked.

Lilium washingtonianum
Cal Flora Record


California Greenbrier

Smilax califonica

The roots may be used in soups or stews or dried and ground into flour. The flour mixed with water and sugar makes a good drink. The young shoots in early season may be eaten raw or cooked. Berries are edible raw or cooked.


Cal Flora Record


Wake Robin/Trillium

Trillium chloropetalum

the stems and leaves may be boiled as greens.

Trillium chloropetalum
Cal Flora Record


Bear Grass/Indian Basket Grass

Xerophyllum tenax

The fibrous root is best eaten roasted or boiled.

Xerophyllum tenax
Cal Flora Record




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