Rocky Mountain pond-lily, Nuphar polysepala

Also called great yellow pond-lily or wokas. I've avoided using the great epithet because this just looks so much like all the other pond-lilies. Why should it be the great one? Because of wokas season? Wokas was an important food source for native Americans. The seeds are used very much like corn, as vegetable, flour, or meal. They can even be popped. The deep seated underwater roots were used medicinally, despite the difficulty of harvesting them. Whether or not it had any unique effect, the hot infusion probably does sooth sore throats. This species grows in still shallow water in AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, BC, NT, and YT. LaPlata Co CO, 6/22/13. Water-lily family, Nymphaeaceae.