''Calochortus nuttallii'', also known as the sego lily, is a

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ous perennial plant that is endemic to the Western United States. It is the

state flower This is a list of U.S. state, federal district, and territory flowers. See also *List of U.S. state trees * Lists of U.S. state insignia References External linksList of state flowers {{USStateLists * U.S. state flowers Flowers ...

of Utah.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to a number of western states, being found throughout Utah and Wyoming, large parts of eastern Nevada, and parts of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. It grows in dry, brushy or grassy slopes and desert high country.

Description

''Calochortus nuttallii'' are around 15–45 cm (6–18 inches) in height and have linear leaves. Plants have 1 to 4 flowers, each with 3 white

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s (and 3 sepals) which are tinged with lilac (occasionally magenta) and have a purplish band radiating from the yellow base. A yellow petaled form with deep purple bands is known from

Petrified Forest National Park Petrified Forest National Park is an American national park in Navajo County, Arizona, Navajo and Apache County, Arizona, Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. Named for its large deposits of petrified wood, the park covers about , encompassin ...

. The yellow petaled form was also observed in a "super bloom" near the Orange Cliffs District of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, on the north side of the Colorado River near Hite, Utah in May 2019. The plant blooms in early summer, with flowers that can be up to 3 inches across.

Taxonomy

''Calochortus nuttallii'' is a species within the genus '' Calochortus'', in a sub-group generally referred to as Mariposa Lilies. The specific epithet ''nuttallii'', named for the English botanist and zoologist, Thomas Nuttall, was ascribed to the species by the American botanists

John Torrey John Torrey (August 15, 1796 – March 10, 1873) was an American botany, botanist, chemist, and physician. Throughout much of his career, he was a teacher of chemistry, often at multiple universities, while he also pursued botanical work, focus ...

and

Asa Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His ''Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually excl ...

when it was officially described in 1857.

Former varieties

A number of former varieties of ''Calochortus nuttallii'' have been reclassified as distinct species: *''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''aureus'' (

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) Ownbey is currently ''

Calochortus aureus ''Calochortus aureus'' is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family. It is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, southern Utah, northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado). n ''Calochortus aureus'' is a ...

*''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''australis'' Munz is currently ''

Calochortus invenustus ''Calochortus invenustus'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name plain mariposa lily. It is native to the mountain ranges of central and southern California, where it grows in the coniferous forests. It has ...

'' Greene *''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''bruneaunis'' (

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J.F.Macbr. James Francis Macbride (19 May 1892 16 June 1976) was an American botanist who devoted most of his professional life to the study of the flora of Peru. Early life and education Born on 19 May 1892 in Rock Valley, Iowa, Macbride graduated from th ...

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Calochortus bruneaunsis ''Calochortus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the lily family. The group includes herbaceous, perennial and bulbous species, all native to North America (primarily the Western United States). The genus ''Calochortus'' includes mariposas ( ...

*''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''leichtlinii'' (

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Calochortus leichtlinii ''Calochortus leichtlinii'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Leichtlin's mariposa, smokey mariposa, and mariposa lily. The plant is native to the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau of California and adja ...

*''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''panamintensis'' Ownbey is currently ''

Calochortus panamintensis ''Calochortus panamintensis'' is a rare North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name Panamint mariposa lily. It is native to Inyo and Kern Counties in California, plus adjacent Nye County, Nevada. It is ...

'' ( Ownbey) Reveal *''Calochortus nuttallii'' var. ''subalpinus''

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Uses

Culinary

Native Americans had culinary uses for the bulbs, seeds, and flowers of the plant. Bulbs were roasted, boiled, or made into a

porridge Porridge is a food made by heating or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, (dried) fruit or syrup to make a sweet cereal, ...

by the

Hopi The Hopi are a Native American ethnic group who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, there are 19,338 Hopi in the country. The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation within the Unite ...

, Havasupai,

Navajo The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...

Southern Paiute The Southern Paiute people are a tribe of Native Americans who have lived in the Colorado River basin of southern Nevada, northern Arizona, and southern Utah. Bands of Southern Paiute live in scattered locations throughout this territory and ha ...

Gosiute The Goshutes are a tribe of Western Shoshone Native Americans. There are two federally recognized Goshute tribes today: * Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, located in Nevada and Utah * Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah ...

, and Ute peoples. The Hopi used the yellow flower ceremonially. The

Shoshone The Shoshone or Shoshoni ( or ) are a Native American tribe with four large cultural/linguistic divisions: * Eastern Shoshone: Wyoming * Northern Shoshone: southern Idaho * Western Shoshone: Nevada, northern Utah * Goshute: western Utah, easter ...

taught the Mormon pioneer immigrants to use the bulb for badly needed food. This resulted in the sego lily being formally designated as the Utah State Flower in 1911. ''Sego'' is derived from the Shoshone word ''seego''. The sego lily was commemorated by the Sego Lily Dam, a flood-prevention infrastructure project in the shape of a giant sego lily, built in Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City in 2017.

Cultivation

''Calochortus nuttallii'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its attractive tulip-shaped flowers and to attract/support native pollinator species. It prefers a deep, sandy soil with good drainage, and is cold-hardy. Plants can be propagated from newly formed bulblets which take two years to flower.

References

External links

*
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for ''Calochortus nuttallii'' (sego lily)

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, NPIN−Native Plant Information Network: ''Calochortus nuttallii''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2934343 nuttallii Taxa named by Thomas Nuttall Endemic flora of the United States Flora of the Western United States Plants used in Native American cuisine Taxa named by Asa Gray Taxa named by John Torrey Cuisine of the Western United States Symbols of Utah Garden plants of North America Flora without expected TNC conservation status