70. GREEN GENTIAN Gentian Family _Frasera speciosa_
Found in the open meadows of the Cedar Breaks highlands and on the high plateaus of Zion and Bryce Canyon. The tall stalks, with their intermixture of pale-green leaves and similarly colored flowers, present a rather conspicuous sight as they tower to heights of 5 feet. The flowers have four sepals and four petals and nectar glands that attract many insects. The petals are flecked with brown and purple.
71. PARRY PRIMROSE Primrose Family _Primula parryi_
This outstanding member of the Primrose Family is found only at high elevations, generally above 10,000 feet. In this region it grows fairly abundantly on Brian Head Peak but is found sparingly at Cedar Breaks. Its brilliant display of rose-red flowers is a remarkable and rewarding sight for those who gain the high places and see this alpine beauty. The smooth, thick leaves, which are quite long, all grow in a rosette at the base of the plant. The fragrance of this flower is disappointing, for it does not match its splendid color.
72. INDIANPOTATO Parsnip Family _Orogenia linearifolia_
As the snow melts on the plateaus, at elevations above 7,000 feet, you may find one of the very first flowers of spring. This member of the Parsnip Family often carpets the alpine meadows with a mass of tiny white flowers never more than an inch or two high.
The root bulb was eaten by the Indians and gives rise to the common name Indianpotato. Another common name is Salt and Pepper Plant because of the speckled appearance of the flowers.
The blooming period of this plant is very brief, and soon after the flowers have faded the leaves disappear and the plant lies dormant during most of the year.
73. SHOOTINGSTAR Primrose Family _Dodecatheon pauciflorum_
Shootingstars are one of the early blooming flowers in the alpine meadows of Cedar Breaks and on the high plateaus. They also come on very early in the moist canyons of Zion. Along with the Columbine and Monkeyflower they are the predominant plants of the Hanging Gardens found on many of the Canyon Walls.
The basal leaves spread close to the ground, while the flowers in a variety of colors, white, pink or purple grow on stems 6 to 8 inches high. The down-pointed stamens of the flower center and the reflexed or turned-back petals gives the flower its common name Shootingstar.