Calochortus Pursh

Mariposa Lily

Greek calos – beautiful, chortos – grass, referring to the beautiful flowers with grass-like leaves.

Perennial herbs from a tunicate bulb. Leaves basal or cauline, linear, not sheathing. Flowers radially symmetrical, bell-shaped, stalked. Inflorescence a 1- to many-flowered umbel or cyme. Tepals 3+3, free, inner 3 broader, basally clawed and with a prominent basal gland or spot. Stamens 6, free; anthers not versatile. Ovary superior, ovoid. Fruit a 3-angled or 3-winged capsule. Seeds brown, flattened or irregular.

Grown in full sun on very well-drained rich soil for the spectacular and unusual ornamental flowers.

About 65 species from western N America.

Broad and basally clawed inner 3 tepals, each with a conspicuous basal gland or spot.

Ownbey (1940), Elliott (1981), Lassanyi & amp; Smith (1993), McDonald (1997, 2000-1).

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Liliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Liliales
family       Liliaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Calochortus albus Benth.
species         Calochortus coeruleus (Kellog) Wats.
species         Calochortus uniflorus Hook. & Arn.