Western spring beauty (Claytonia lanceolata) is a perennial that grows from a corm.    Several short stems (some underground) will have a few fleshy basal lanceolate leaves.  Whitish-pinkish flowers with deep pink veins emerge in spring with 2 sepals and 5 petals each in clusters.   After flowering, capsules with seeds develop in late spring and the leaves die back in the summer heat.

Western spring beauty can be found in the middle and upper grasslands and at higher elevations on damp slopes.    All of the plant is edible and the corms were harvested by various groups of First Nations people.     We enjoy seeing them in the spring, appearing after the first wave of buttercups and yellow bells.   

 

Some photos are shared here in a Google Photos album: