Sego lilies served as a staple food for early explorers such as Lewis and Clark. They often called the Sego lily the “Indian Salad,” and it was known to keep for extended periods of time once boiled. Native Americans had been collecting and using the Sego lily bulbs much earlier than Lewis and Clark had come across them. It is important to note that, while the Sego lily bulb provides important carbohydrates and energy, it alone will not sustain a person. This is why it is referred to as an emergency or survival food.