Page 72 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Glacier-Lily, Erythronium
grandiflorum (LILIACEAE)
Walter Siegmund, CC-BY-SA-3.0
YELLOW GLACIER LILY, also known as Avalanche vested before it has flowered in spring. Bulbs can be
Lily, gets its name from the fact that it is often found harvested as soon as the leaves begin to shoot. Their
on the snow line in sub-alpine meadows of western taste changes from slightly bitter and milky when raw,
North America. It grows from a small, deep bulb and to starchy and sweet when cooked. Bulbs are eaten
can reach up to 10 inches (25 cm) high. in small quantities. Larger doses can cause vomiting.
FLOWER: Yellow glacier lilies are one of the first Leaves (raw or cooked) and young seedpods (cooked
sub-alpine plants to bloom once the snow starts to like green beans) can also be eaten, though it reduces
melt. Each bulb produces 1-3 stems that are about 6-16 the potency of the bulb.
inches (15-40 cm) tall. Each stem produces a single BELL PEPPER STUFFED WITH YELLOW GLACIER
nodding flower that is between 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) LILY RECIPE: Ingredients: 1 large red bell pepper,
in size. The flowers are 6 bright yellow petals that are
½ a cup of chopped yellow glacier bulbs, ½ a cup
fused to its sepals (called tepals). These tepals curve
of finely diced potatoes, 1 cup of chopped cauli-
back from the stigma and brightly colored (mostly
flower, 1 garlic clove, fresh basil leaves for garnish.
yellow) stamens that hang down towards the ground.
Cut the bell pepper in half, scoop out the seeds and
LEAF: Each bulb produces 2 basal leaves that grow be- set to one side. Fry the garlic, potatoes, cauliflower
tween 4 and 10 inches (10-25 cm) long. The soft, fleshy
and bulbs in a pan and then ladle the mixture into
green leaves are like wide blades that curve inwards.
the bell pepper halves. Bake in the oven at 370°F
EDIBLE PARTS: bulbs, leaves, and young seedpods (190°C) for 20-30 min. Garnish with fresh basil.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The bulb is ground into a POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Death Camas, Toxicos-
poultice to treat skin conditions like minor wounds. cordion venenosum - grows in similar areas, but has
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Unlike other lilies longer, darker, narrower leaves. The inward curve of
whose bulbs are harvested once the plant has gone the leaf is much more pronounced on the yellow gla-
dormant in the winter, yellow glacier lilies are har- cier lily.
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