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 2 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 MARIPOSALily 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.

Segolily Mariposa

2. YELLOW MARIPOSALily 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.

Yellow Mariposa

3. PRAIRIE SPIDERWORTSpiderwort 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.

Prairie Spiderwort

4. BLUEDICKSLily 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.