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Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus gunnisonii), family Liliaceae (Lily). This plant is so exotic looking one could easily lose themselves in a fantasy of tropical islands while gazing at it. WIKIPEDIA has this on the genus; 'Calochortus is a genus of bulbous plants that includes 70 species from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to Nebraska. Calochortus is the most widely dispersed genus of Liliaceae on the North American Pacific coast. Of these, 28 species are endemic to California. The genus Calochortus includes Mariposas (or Mariposa lilies) with open wedge-shaped petals, Globe lilies and Fairy lanterns with globe-shaped flowers, and Cat's ears and Star tulips with erect pointed petals. The word Calochortus is derived from Greek and means "beautiful grass". Calochortus produce one or more flowers on a stem that arises from the bulb, generally in the spring or early summer. Unlike most other Liliaceae, Calochortus petals differ in size and color from their sepals. Flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, bluish, or streaked. The insides of the petals are often highly hairy. These hairs, along with the nectaries, are often used in distinguishing species from each other.' End quote.
Edible: Unfortunately, the (edible) roots of this plant are as sweet as the blossoms look. They were so extensively gathered by Native Americans and early settlers that some species have become rare and/or endangered. The roots are a viable food source, so much so that settlers in Utah survived a famine from 1848-1849 by consuming them. Animals find them appealing as well. Rodents are known to gather and store the bulbs for winter food.
USES: Ethnobotanical information includes: Keres, Western Infusion of plant taken for swellings. Cheyenne Dried, chopped bulbs used as an ingredient for a medicinal mixture. Root put into a horse's mouth before running the animal in a race. Bulbs dried and used as a winter food. Dried bulbs pounded fine and meal boiled into a sweet porridge or mush. Bulbs cooked fresh and used for food. Navajo, Ramah Plant used as a ceremonial medicine. Juice of leaf applied to pimples. Decoction of whole plant taken to ease delivery of placenta. Bulb used as "life medicine." Bulbs eaten raw or gathered in the fall and boiled.
The Mariposa portion of the plant's common name means butterfly in Spanish. It is not hard to imagine this beautiful bloom taking flight. Would that we could go along!
We have 3 other species in the genus Calochortus on the site. See them: elegans - lyallii - macrocarpus (Contributed by Bob Bagley). Each is beautiful.
Plant location: The Moose Visitor Center Nature Trail, Gould Colorado, was where we sighted this lovely bloom. July 31, 2008. Habitat is montane to subalpine, with the plants found in meadows, aspen forests, and shrublands.
Bloom season: May through July. -
Buttonweed -or- Cheeseplant -or- Cheeseweed -or- Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), family Malvaceae (Mallow). There are 49 genera in the family, but only 10 species in the genus Malva. A good close look at the flower as our close-up shows, reveals a lovely delicate little flower with purple lines and sweetly scalloped edges. The misfortune of these blooms is that they are swallowed by profuse amounts of foliage that dwarf the flowers almost to non-exsistence. The stems and foliage are tough and leggy, and spreading. Small wonder that these little beasties are classified as invasive weeds!! In spite of this WIKIPEDIA reports that the plants are not only edible but the seeds specifically "contain 21% protein and 15.2% fat". We may have to re-think
our wishes to exterminate them from our property.
USES: The following facts on Native American tribes uses of Common Mallow come from the Native American Ethnobotany website: Cherokee Drug (Dermatological Aid) Flowers put in oil and mixed with tallow for use on sores. Iroquois Drug (Dermatological Aid) Compound infusion of plants applied as poultice to swellings of all kinds. Infusion of smashed plant taken to vomit for a love medicine. Compound decoction of plants applied as poultice to baby's swollen stomach. (Love Medicine) Infusion of smashed plant taken to vomit for a love medicine. Cold, compound infusion of leaves applied as poultice to broken bones. (Orthopedic Aid) Compound decoction of plants applied as poultice to baby's sore back. Compound decoction of plants applied to baby's swollen stomach or sore back. Mahuna Drug (Analgesic) Plant used for painful congestion of the stomach. Navajo, Ramah Drug Cold infusion of plant taken and used as a lotion for injury or swelling.
The plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa.
Plant location: Our own backyard in Northglenn Colorado. The photos were taken May 19, 2008. These plants are found virtually everywhere in the United States and much of Canada. They are plains dwellers found in many locations - including our lawn and flower beds. 
Bloom season: May to October. As with any plant as widely distributed as this, the bloom period probably will vary by region. -
Arctic Gentian (Gentiana algida-was frigida), family Gentianaceae (Gentian). What a BEAUTY! This is our season for Gentians, and what a lovely species this is. The genus is rather large - 400 species. We were delighted to see these flowers as their distribution is rather limited in the United States; northwestern U.S., Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana - southwestern U.S., Utah - southcentral U.S., New Mexico. These flowers are not especially tall so they could be overlooked; their beauty could be said to be subtle on this account. Look closely and drink in this bloom. Delicate speckles at the tops of the petals, while deep in the bottle beautiful coral colored stamens. Some Gentian's roots are of medicinal value
in treating digestive problems and malaria. 
Plant location: Seen in the Rocky Mountain National Park tundra - September 7, 2008. 
Bloom period...somewhat late in the season, August and September. At times the blooms can be extremely long lasting, right up until a frost or early snow fall. -
Snow On the Mountain -or- Smoke On the Prairie -or- Variegated Spurge -or- Whitemargined Spurge (Euphorbia marginata), family Euphorbiaceae (Spurge). After many peeks in books of this very lovely plant, we saw it in the flesh. However, pretty though it may be, the plants come with a mixed bag of positive vs. negative traits. Varying degrees of toxicity warnings and invasive weed classifications come with the species. The USDA Plant Database lists 96 species in this genus, while according to information on WIKIPEDIA there are closer to 2,160. They describe this genus as 'one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom, maybe exceeded only by Senecio'. The plants are native to the continental United States.
USES: From the excellent website Native American Ethnobotany are the following uses of this species by Native American tribes: Lakota Infusion of crushed leaves used as a liniment for swellings. Infusion of plant used by mothers without milk. Pawnee Plant considered poisonous. HOWEVER, this is an interesting record ... Kiowa Used for chewing gum. (It is not noted how or what parts of the plants were used in that way).
CAUTIONS: Per WIKIPEDIA: Spurges should be handled with caution. Latex coming in contact with the skin should be washed off immediately and thoroughly. Partially or completely congealed latex is often no longer soluble in water, but can be removed with an emulsion (milk, hand-cream). A physician should be consulted regarding any inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially the eyes, as severe eye damage including possible permanent blindness may result from acute exposure to the sap. It has been noticed, when cutting large succulent spurges in a greenhouse, that vapours from the latex spread and can cause severe irritation to the eyes and air passages several metres away. Precautions, including sufficient ventilation, are required. Small children and domestic pets should be kept from contact with spurges.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), the popular 'Christmas Plants' are members of this family. Another species in this family on the site, Rocky Mountain Spurge, is here.
Plant location: Seen along the roadside driving to the entrance to Roxborough Park, in Colorado. July 21, 2010. GPS coordinates N39°26.393 W105°03.842, elevation 6014'. These plants are spread generously throughout the United States: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, WY. Habitats include dry slopes; disturbed prairies; roadsides (where this specimen was sighted). The plants are found in parts of Canada as well.
Bloom season: July through October. In spite of the possible toxic characteristics of the plants they are often well regarded for their ornamental appearance in the cultivated garden. They are said to be highly resistant to deer foraging. -
Canada Violet -or- Canadian White Violet (Viola canadensis), family Violaceae (Violet). This diminutive little herb is easy to overlook. Look closely at the plant shot included in this panel. We placed a dime next to the bloom to give a perspective of it's small size. A close look at the face of the flower reveals a delightful sight!! The center offers a sweet yellow color with the purple lines or viens that is distinctive with these flowers. Lovely! The Violet family is sizeable, having 16 genera hosting almost 800 species.
Greek Lore: The wonderful book, WILD AT HEART, by Janis Lindsey Huggins, has this delightful information on the Violet family: 'According to Greek mythology, when Zeus' lover Io was turned into a white heifer Zeus commanded violets to grow wherever her tears fell, to console her and sweeten her diet. Violets still sweeten the diet of wild-food gourmets, who treasure the flowers and leaves as nutritious and colorful additions to salads, omelets, and casseroles - but only in moderation. Soaplike compounds in the leaves can upset the stomach. Violet wine was a popular brew in ancient Rome and violet-flower or leaf tea is still used as a beverage in England. Medicinally, violet leaves have been prepared in salves for skin irritations, poultices for bruises and teas and syrups for coughs, sore throats, and constipation. The Greeks and Romans believed strongly in the medicinal value of violets. Hippocrates extolled the plant as a cure for headache, hangover, and breathing problems. Violets also have a stong folklore tradition for treatment of cancer.
American Dog Violet was used by the Native American Ojibwa tribe as a Heart Medicine - Infusion of whole plant taken for heart trouble. Decoction of root used for pains near the bladder.
See the other members of genus Viola on this site: labradorica & nuttallii.
Plant location: The Lookout Mountain area, Jackson County Open Space, Colorado was the location of this sighting. Remarkably, the date was OCTOBER 4, 2008!! The flower photograph is a composite of the two blooms in this shot using Adobe Photoshop CS3. This species is found in almost every state of the U.S. and all of Canada. However, the species is endangered in Illinois, Maine, and New Jersey, and threatened in the state of Conneticut. Habitats are foothill canyons, not in deep shade. Our specimen was in a fairly moist area.
Bloom season: The commonly recognized period is May to July. Obviously, if conditions are favorable the bloom period can extend MUCH longer, as our specimen demonstrated. We saw another violet also blooming later than commonly reported: Viola labradorica. -
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White Heath Aster -or- Many-flowered Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) -or- (Virgulus ericoides), family Asteraceae (Aster). This perennial herb is a native to North America. It was a sweet sight to see late in the bloom season for wildflowers. The plants were profuse in the grassy, rather dry area, where we spotted them. They made such a nice color spot in an otherwise unremarkable landscape - for wildflowers anyway. The former genus Virgulus seems to be no more. Currently the genus Symphyotrichum appears to be the botanical choice of the day. The genus hosts about 90 species. Our species is distributed generously across the United States, while several species also occur in the West Indies, Central and South
America, as well as in eastern Eurasia, per WIKIPEDIA. Not much specific information about uses or lore seems to be available for our specific specimen.
Folklore: This wonderful article on ASTERS was written by Gregg Pasterick, Myth and Folklore: Where the cosmos is concerned, perhaps no wildflower wrapped in the musty, tattered cloth of myth was associated with the stars like the aster. Aster, after all, is from the Greek, meaning...yep...star. Astrologers regard it as an herb of Venus. No wonder it has turned up in love divinations in many countries. It has had many uses, mystical and otherwise. Asters were burned by the Greeks to drive away serpents, while the Romans dressed up altars to the gods with wreaths of aster blossoms. In China, according to the Feng Su Chi, the people of Li lived well past the 100 years because the water they drank was flavored by the asters growing up in the surrounding hills. The Chippewa Indians smoked the dried, powdered root of an aster species to attract game. The aroma of the smoke was believed to be similar to that of a deer's hoof. As a consequence, deer were compelled to approach the hunter smoking aster root. In some Native American tribes, asters are associated with Bear, the most powerful of all mystical beings. According to some legends, Bear gave mankind a particularly powerful medicine, the aster root. It is named for Bear - Bear Root or Bear Medicine - and is regarded as being the next best thing to a panacea. During curing ceremonies, the Shaman would chew Bear Root. It would induce a trance in which the Shaman could "see" the witch who caused the sickness in his patient. Among the Zuni, asters - the entire plant - were ground between stones in the fraternity chamber at noon, during an elaborate ceremony of the preparation of the fraternity medicine. This was done by the "Great Mother" of the fraternity, while accompanied by rattle, drum and song. End quote.
Plant location: Clear Creek Trail in Arvada Colorado was the location of these thriving plants. October 6, 2008. This species is a plains and foothills dweller. It could be seen on dry grounds, sandy hillsides, and openings in woods. 
Bloom season: July to October. -
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Scentless Chamomile, Scentless False Mayweed, Wild Chamomile, Mayweed, False Chamomile, German Chamomile, Baldr's Brow - LOTS of common names - (Tripleurospermum perforata) (was Matricaria perforata), family Asteraceae (Aster). This is a pretty flower that was growing off the side of a walking path. A late bloomer still holding on to the last vestiges of the season, this was the only flower still in bloom. Much more other foliage could be seen of plants that had finished their display. The genus Tripleurospermum (mayweed) has a whopping population of two species, according to the USADA Plant Database. Our specimen perforata is the more widely distributed in the United States and Canada. The species
Maritimum is found only in about a dozen states in America. WIKIPEDIA, however, mentions there could be as many as 38 members. WIKIPEDIA has this on the classification issue; 'Tripleurospermum inodorum is the type species of Tripleurospermum. Historically included the genus Matricaria, Tripleurospermum inodorum has been the subject of some controversy, with many revisions in recent years. The Flora Europaea uses Matricaria perforata for this species. Synonyms/other scientific names include Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) Lainz, Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. inodorum.' End quote. Further data is offered under the genus page; 'Tripleurospermum is a genus in the family Asteraceae in the tribe Anthemideae. The classification of the 38 annual and herbaceous perennial species is problematic. Most of the species are from Europe and temperate Asia although a few are from North America and North Africa. The species are placed in Matricaria by some authors. Plants typically have lobed leaves that
are composed of one to three opposite pairs cut almost to the leaf mid rib: they have indehiscent one celled fruits that have 3-ribs and two resinous glands at the base, Matricaria species are distinguished from these species by lacking fruits with 3-ribs and the two glands.' End quote. This species should not be confused with any medicinal properties known to be characteristic with other plants called Chamomile. The most common is German Chamomile. Much detail on the herbal uses of German Chamomile can be found on Wikipedia. 
Plant location: Clear Creek Trail in Arvada Colorado on October 6, 2008. Habitat; montane and subalpine. The distribution in the United States and Canada is huge. The plants were introduced from Eurasia and North Africa. Here they have been classed as invasive weeds. 
Bloom season: June through October. -
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White Horehound -or- Common Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), family Lamiaceae (Mint). The foliage of this perennial herb so much resembles a mint plant. we thought that is what it was. Although in the mint family, these plants are classed in their own genus - a really big one - three species! The plant is not a native to North America, coming from Europe, North Africa, and Asia. This plant is famous for it's use in cough drops and hard candies. They are delicious by the way! The plants are functional in another way as well. They are a natural grasshopper repellent in farming. There is some degree of invasive weed status assigned to common horehound. One of the interesting physical charactaristics of horehound is that it has a square stem.
Folklore: This fun lore about horehound comes from the author Richard Folkard, Plant lore, legends, and lyrics ' HOREHOUND.- Horehound (Marrubiutn) is the Herb which the Egyptians dedicated to their god Horus, and which the priests called the Seed of Horus, or the Bull's Blood, and the Eye of the Star. Strabo attributed to the plant magical properties as a counter-poison. Horehound is one of the five plants which are stated by the Mishna to be the "bitter herbs" ordered to be taken by the Jews at the Feast of the Passover. An infusion of its leaves has an ancient reputation as being valuable in consumptive cases, coughs, and colds, and, according to Gerarde, " is good for them that have drunke poyson, or that have been bitten of serpents." It is a herb of Mercury, hot in the second degree and dry in the third. - To dream of Horehound indicates that you will suffer imprisonment.'. End quote. We can't say we have ever dreamed of horehound, now there is an exciting dream, but now we will certainly avoid it!
Plant location: Seen in the Rocky Mountain foothills in Colorado state at Hwy 72 and Plainview Road on June 5, 2008. The habitat of horehound is the Plains. Pastures, fields, and roadsides are common places to find it. The distribution of white horehound is HUGE, covering most of the United States including Alaska, and generous areas of Canada as well. 
Bloom season: June to September. -
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