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American Bistort -or- Western Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides), family Polygonaceae (Buckwheat). A pretty white cone, with yellow tipped stamens - each on it's own stalk - will easily grace an alpine meadow and delight you! 
One source of ours, the book SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILFLOWERS, offers that the roots of this species are edible and best if roasted.
Note the information that the genus is ambiguous botanically. This is from WIKIPEDIA 'Persicaria bistorta (Bistort or Common Bistort) is a herbaceous flowering plant found throughout Europe. The generic placement of this species is in flux. While treated here as in Persicaria, it has also been placed in Polygonum or Bistorta. The Latin name "bistorta" refers to the twisted appearance of the root. The plant was used to make a bitter pudding in Lent from a combination of the plant's leaves, oatmeal, egg and other herbs. It is the principal ingredient of dock pudding. Numerous other vernacular names have been recorded for the species in historical texts, though none is used to any extent. Many of the following refer to the plant's use in making puddings: Adderwort, Dragonwort, Easter giant, Easter ledger, Easter ledges, Easter magiant, Easter man-giant, Gentle dock, Great bistort, Osterick, Oysterloit, Passion dock, Patience dock (this name is also used for Rumex patientia), Patient dock, Pink pokers, Pudding grass, Pudding dock, Red legs, Snakeweed, Twice-writhen, Water ledges.' End quote.
Plant location: We saw these cheery looking blooms at Mt Evans and in the Rocky Mountain National Park - both
at high elevations - in July 2008.
Bloom season: Late spring through summer. -
Bractless blazingstar -or- Sand Lily -or- Upright Mentzelia (Mentzelia nuda), family Loasaceae (Stickleaf). Our original identification of this plant was incorrect. As we have learned more about this difficult genus, we were able to correct our mistake. We had noticed photographs of these striking flowers in our reference books and wished to see them 'live'. On this outing, quite unexpectedly, we got our wish. The plants were not far from the river bank in the area we were photographing some American Avocets. The soil was quite dry and sandy. The timing of our visit to the site was lucky in terms of seeing these blooms open. It was early evening. If the petals had still been closed we may have easily missed the flowers. With only the stamens in view, the plants would likely have looked like large creamy thistle as we walked on by. Often photographs on the internet show the plants with the flower petals folded straight up in the air. The genus hosts 60-70 species. They are native to the Americas. Some species are shrubs. The flowers open late in the afternoon and close in the evening. Sometimes they open on overcast days. Sand lily has a strong, deep taproot. It is sometimes called "stickleaf" due to the barbed hairs that cause the leaves to cling to clothing or hair.
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany shows Mentzelia nuda var. nuda as a tribe Dakota Drug - Boiled, strained sap applied externally for fever.
More WildflowersWest photographs here.
Plant location: We were exploring an area of the Adams County Regional Park when we came across this specimen. August 20, 2008. The plants can be found in prairie hillsides, pastures, roadsides, and waste areas, in sandy soils according to Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses. Found in these United States: AZ , CO , IL , KS , MO , MT , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WY.
Bloom season: July, August, September -
Prickly Poppy (Argemone polyanthemos), family Papaveraceae (Poppy). Oh! The reputation of these plants is almost universal - d.r.u.g.s. Well it isn't always true. Only the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) can claim this dubious distinction. According to the website Southwest Colorado Wildflowers is the following: 'This is an Eastern Plains species introduced to the Western Slope probably through highway construction. It is still uncommon on the Western Slope. Flowers are large, brilliant white, delicate, and flutter in a slight breeze. Prickles adorn stem leaf and seed pods. "Argemone" is a herb referred to by the Greeks thousands of years ago and "polyanthemos" means "many flowers". Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.' End quote.
Our specimen was in what could be considered a plains area. The flower certainly appears in contradiction to the foliage. With a delicate and brilliant white crepe paper look to the flower, the harsh needle-like leaves and stems add a touch-me-not message to the look of this plant. The genus Argemone hosts about 25 species of prickly poppies. Other poppy genus include bush varieties, scrubs, and even small trees. Note that there are plants in the Papaveraceae family that are poisonous. WIKIPEDIA has this 'These plants almost all contain alkaloids. Many are poisonous. 
CAUTION: The Mexican Prickly Poppy (pictured above) is poisonous if taken internally and may cause edema and glaucoma. Even if an animal, such as a goat, should persist in grazing on this plant, not only will the animal suffer but so will those who drink its milk, because the poisons are passed along in the milk.' End quote
Plant location: Our specimen was off the roadside in Thornton Colorado, July 2008.
Bloom season: April to August. -
Ten-Petal Mentzelia -or- Chalk Lily -or- Evening Starflower (Mentzelia decapetala), family Loasaceae (Loasa). This difficult genus is known for problems for botanists from key writing to where to place the species. William Weber in Colorado Flora Eastern Slope places most species in the genus Nuttallia but mentions most others have them in Mentzelia. Per WIKIPEDIA is this: 'Mentzelia is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars or stickleafs; other names include "evening stars" and "moonflowers". End quote.
USES and CAUTIONS: The flowers open late in the afternoon and close during the night. Ten-petal mentzelia has a strong, deep taproot and will not withstand transplanting. The rough leaves can cling to clothing or hair. These plants accumulate selenium and can be mildly poisonous. Forage Value: Livestock rarely eat ten-petal mentzelia but birds will consume the seeds.
FUN FACT: Collected by Lewis and Clark apparently on white bluffs near an Omaha Indian village along the Missouri River near the mouth of Bow Creek, Cedar Co., Nebraska, 25-26 Aug 1804. They called it Gumbo Lily.
More WildflowersWest photographs here.
Plant location: Seen in Cody Wyoming on Belfry Hwy on September 1, 2009. GPS coordinates: N44°31.943 W109°03.568, elevation 4984'.
Bloom season: July, August, September. -
Hall's Alumroot (Heuchera hallii) family Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage). This species of Heuchera is less seen than many of the more common wildflowers. It is extremely interesting in it's properties. We found it in the book COLORADO'S BEST WILDFLOWER HIKES by Pam and David Irwin (rather than any of our reference books on wildflower identification). True to the description in their book, our specimen was nestled in the crooks of granite on a hillside going to the summit of Mt. Evans. It is said to be abundant on the upper reaches of the Mount Herman trail, which we look forward to exploring.
USES: Alumroot was favored by Native Americans for use as an eyewash and for curing sores. The plant's use was effective on human and horse sores.
FunFact: The most interesting application of the plant is one used for stealth!! The juices of plants in the alumroot genus can be made into invisible ink!! The following is quoted from Pan and David Irwin's book: 'Seventeenth century Britons wrote about Heuchera's application in "secret writing". By smashing alumroot in a small amount of water, the liquid becomes invisible ink. Coorespondents pen letters to be read only when held under running water.' End quote. Our encounter with Heuchera hallii was prior to learning of the invisible ink qualities of the plants juice.
The genus hosts about 200 species and they all are native to North America. The appearance of heuchera can vary greatly from one to the next and grow in a variety of conditions.
Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008. 
Bloom season: June through early August. Habitat - montane regions. -
Silky Locoweed -or- Whitepoint Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean). This pretty member of the pea family is one of approximately 26 to as many as 300 species in the genus Oxytropis. It is one of two genera (the other is Astragalus) of plants commonly called locoweed for it's tendancy to be toxic to grazing animals. Most plants are native to Eurasia and North America but several are native to the Arctic. From one federal U.S. database is this: 'Whitepoint locoweed has adapted a stress-tolerant survival strategy characteristic of plants in arctic and alpine habitats. It has a large seedbank that remains viable for many years. Its principal stresses are low temperatures, desiccating effects of strong winds on rocky slopes, intense solar radiation, and mineral nutrient deficiencies. Whitepoint locoweed thrives at medium elevations but grows at elevations up to 11,000 feet in Colorado.' USES: Per the website Native American Ethnobotany are the following records of uses of this species by Native Americans: Blackfoot Drug - infusion of leaves applied to sores. Infusion of leaves used for ear troubles. Stems used by children to make headdresses. ALSO, members of the pea family fix nitrogen in the soil and are thus very important for soil health.
Additional photos here.
Plant location: Found along Colorado 96 headed east towards Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado. May 5, 2010. GPS coordinates N38°15.076 W105°01.019, elevation 5540'. It is found in the following United States: (CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WY). Habitats include prairies, mountain meadows, and open mountain slopes.
Bloom season: May through September. -
Alpine Thistle -or- Frosty Ball -or- Wolly Thistle -or- Mountain Thistle (Cirsium scopulorum), family Asteraceae (Aster). What dramatic looking flowers these are! They seem to be fiercely protected by their thorny edged leaves, while the 'flower' is cushioned by a downy mass of fine hair. We have seen many examples of these plants at higher elevations such as Pikes Peak, and the Rocky Mountain National Park as well as on Mt. Evans. While many if not most thistle's are considered weeds they too have a place in Mother Nature's grand scheme. They provide nourishment for various insects. The name Cirsium comes from the Greek word kirsos (swollen viens). The plant has been known to be a remedy for just that.
Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008.
Bloom season: July to September. Subalpine and Alpine zones. -
Parry's Milkvetch (Astragalus parryi), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean). This is a really pretty Astragalus and one of 1600 (worldwide) total species in the genus. The perennial forb/herbs are listed in the FDA Poisonous Plant Database with no additional information given. The plants are native to the United States. No specific records of uses by Native Americans.
Plant location: Seen hiking the Bitterbrush area near Lyons Colorado on May 12, 2009. Found only in Colorado and Wyoming. The fruits in the plant view were added later (after finding the species in the Rocky Mountain National Park on June 8, 2011.) The actual pods had developed and were photographed on a return visit on June 19, 2011.
Bloom season: March through May. -
Elegant Death Camas -or- Wand Lily -or- Poisen Sego (Zigadenus elegans), family Liliaceae (Lily). Isn't this flower lovely? To LOOK at yes.
CAUTION: Don't let any part of this plant enter your body, IT WILL KILL YOU. The name is a telling clue. Many livestock animals alone, AND early western settlers, have been killed by ingesting this plant. The roots are easily mistaken for edible onions or lily bulbs. The poison is zygadenine and is more potent than strychnine! The plant is a perennial also called Mountain Death Camas. It can cause convulsions, coma, and then death.
Fortunately this is a small group with only about 15 species in the genus. They are found in North America and Asia. The plants grow from bulbs or rhizomes. Per WIKIPEDIA: 'they are now regarded by modern taxonomy (for example the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) as members of the family Melanthiaceae. family of flowering perennial herbs in the Northern Hemisphere. The family has been recognized by relatively few taxonomists, and the circumscription has varied. Many authors have considered these plants to belong to the family Liliaceae, in part because both their sepals and petals closely resemble each other and are often large and showy like the flowers of the Lily Family.' End quote. SO....NO making of tea with this plant!!!
Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008. 
Bloom season: June to August. Habitat, foothills to alpine zones. -
White Penstemon -or- White Beardtongue -or- Red-line Beardtongue (Penstemon albidus), was family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), re-classed to family Plantaginaceae (Plantain). Although this is typically a white bloom, the flowers can range in colors of pale pinks and blues as well. The perennial herbs are one of about 250 species. Although there are many recorded uses of species in this genus by Native Americans, we have found none for this species. White Penstemon is the most widespread penstemon or beardtonue in the Great Plains. The insides of the blossoms are bearded and often spotted with purple.
Plant location: Seen hiking Pawnee Butte June 3, 2009. This sorry plant shot was all we seemed to get of this species. As with foliage we hope to get better pics in 2010. Common on open prairies and hillsides, on sandy or gravelly soils. Found in the following United States: CO, IA, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY.
Bloom season: April through June. We managed to forget foliage photographs but are hoping to see this species again in 2010 at Pawnee and replace with better images. -
Field Mouse Chickweed (Cerastium arvense), family Caryothyllaceae (Pinks). These early blooming flowers have a simple delicate symmetry that is very attractive. The plants in this genus are called chickweeds due to their use as feed for chickens and other barnyard birds. The plants are perennials. The following is from the Center for Plant Conservation: 'The species Cerastium arvense is a hardy perennial that can be found in cold and temperate regions of both the northern and southern hemispheres. This particular variety produces 5-petaled flowers that are white and about 3/8 of an inch wide. Plants can grow to a foot tall, and are found growing individually or in mats up to several yards wide...Kartesz (1999) recognizes
five subspecies of Cerastium arvense, and between them all they are located in nearly every state in the United States, including Alaska, as well as nearly every province in Canada, as well as in Greenland.' End quote. Our specimens were growing in a thick cluster of flowers making a pretty if delicate show. 
Plant location: Seen on June 6, 2008 in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains approximately 40 miles from Denver. Can be found in fairly diverse habitats; meadows, roadsides, open forest, and dry hillsides...for example. 
Bloom season: Spring and summer. -
Prairie Phlox (Phlox andicola), family Polemoniaceae (Phlox). Also called Moss Phlox or Plains Phlox. This species is native to the United States. These plants are perennial (they come back every year) forb/herbs. There are around 70 species in the genus. The plants grow to about 5200' in elevation.
Plant location: Seen on the beautiful Pawnee Butte hiking trail, June 3, 2009. Found in these states: CO, KS, MT, ND, NE, SD, WY.
Bloom season: April through June.