Perennial herb to about 5 cm tall; bulbils present. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaf longer than stem, present at flowering. Inflorescence umbel-like. Flowers open bell-shaped, erect; spring. Tepals to 30 mm long, pale purple; sparse-hairy above a membrane-fringed, elongated gland. Anthers acute to blunt, shorter than filaments.

C. luteus Lindl., Gold Nuggets, from California is a perennial herb to about 60 cm; bulbils present. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaf longer than stem, present at flowering. Inflorescence umbel-like. Flowers bell-shaped, erect; summer.Tepals to 45 mm long, dark yellow with radiating red-brown lines, often with a medial redbrown patch; sparsely hairy above a papillate, elongated gland. Anthers acute to blunt, shorter than filaments.

C. venustus Benth., Square Mariposa Lily, from California is a perennial herb to about 60 cm; bulbils present. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaf longer than stem, present at flowering. Inflorescence umbel-like. Flowers bell-shaped, erect; summer. Tepals to 45 mm long, white to yellow, purple or red, with a medial dark red patch; sparsely hairy above a papillate, rounded or diamond-shaped gland. Anthers acute to blunt, shorter than filaments.

Oregon and California.

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.