Yellow Fritillary
(Fritillaria pudica)

This beautiful little plant blooms on our foothills in March and April. It is only 3 or 4 inches tall, and usually has just a single yellow blossom which bends downward near the top of the stalk. Because of this hanging head, it was named pudica, which means "bashful".

The bright yellow blossom has three petals, three petal-like sepals, and six stamens.