Yellowbells (Fritillaria pudica)

and the ridge of Dry Canyon in the backdrop. 4/22/08, Bells Canyon, Wasatch Mountains. The Latin name "Fritillaria" means a dice-box for gambling, because Linnaeus thought the brightly checkered cup-like flowers of European Fritillarias were just like it. But our little Rocky Mountains beauty is the smalles and most modestly colored of all the species of this beautiful genus - which is why it's got its species name "pudica", meaning "shy"