Calochortus leichtlinii

Calochortus leichtlinii is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Leichtlin's mariposa, smokey mariposa, and mariposa lily.[2][3]

Calochortus leichtlinii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Calochortus
Species:
C. leichtlinii
Binomial name
Calochortus leichtlinii
Synonyms[1]
  • Calochortus nuttallii var. leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Smiley
  • Mariposa leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Hoover
  • Calochortus nuttallii var. subalpinus M.E.Jones

The plant is native to the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau of California and adjacent parts of the Great Basin in southeastern Oregon and western Nevada.[4] It grows in coniferous forest and chaparral habitats, including the lowest grassy hills—such as along the Sierra Nevada boundary with the Central Valley and agriculture.[5][6]

The small underground bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans.

Description

Calochortus leichtlinii is a perennial herb producing an erect, unbranching stem up to 60 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 10 to 15 centimeters long and withers by flowering.

The inflorescence is a loose cluster of 1 to 5 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three petals 1 to 4 centimeters long which are white, pinkish, or dull blue in color and spotted with yellow and dark red or black and hairy at the bases.[7] These color patterns vary widely among different regional and local populations.

The fruit is a narrow capsule up to 6 centimeters long.

Leichtlin's mariposa
Yosemite National Park
Drift of Calochortus leichtlinii flowers Ansel Adams Wilderness

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, "Common Name: Mariposa Lily"
  3. Hooker, Joseph Dalton 1870. Curtis's Botanical Magazine 96: plate 5862 plus 2 subsequent text pages description in Latin, commentary in English, full-page color illustration
  4. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  5. Calflora taxon report, University of California @ Berkeley: Calochortus leichtlinii (Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily, smokey mariposa)
  6. Flora of North America, Calochortus leichtlinii
  7. sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, Scientific Name: Calochortus Leichtlinii


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