''Calochortus'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

s in the lily family. The group includes

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

and

bulb In botany, a bulb is structurally a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs du ...

ous species, all native to North America (primarily the

Western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

).Flora of North America, Vol. 26 Page 119 ''Calochortus'' Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 240. 1814.
/ref> The genus ''Calochortus'' includes mariposas (or mariposa lilies) with open wedge-shaped petals, globe lilies and fairy lanterns with globe-shaped flowers, and cat's ears and star tulips with erect pointed petals. The word ''Calochortus'' is derived from Greek and means "beautiful grass".

Description

''Calochortus'' flowers have six

tepal A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very ...

s. Unlike most other

Liliaceae The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of about 15 genera and 610 species of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a f ...

, ''Calochortus'' tepals are in two series that differ in size and color. The outer three are generally narrower and more

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...

-like, while the inner three are larger, usually with bright marks at the base. They may be described as

petal Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...

s. The flowers are borne on a stem that arises from a bulb, generally in the spring or early summer. Flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, bluish, or streaked. The insides of the petals are often very 'hairy'. These hairs, along with the nectaries, are often used in distinguishing species from each other. ;Species Calochortus gunnisonii gunnisonii crop

Calochortus gunnisonii, Teller County, CO

*''

Calochortus albus ''Calochortus albus''Baldwin, B. G., D. H. Goldman, D. J. Keil, R. Patterson, T. J. Rosatti, and D. H. Wilken, editors. 2012. "The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California", second edition. University of California press, Berkeley. . pp 1380 ...

'' white globelily - CA,

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

*''

Calochortus amabilis ''Calochortus amabilis''Baldwin, B. G., D. H. Goldman, D. J. Keil, R. Patterson, T. J. Rosatti, and D. H. Wilken, editors. 2012. "The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California", second edition. University of California press, Berkeley. pp 138 ...

'' short lily - CA *'' Calochortus ambiguus'' doubting mariposa lily - UT AZ NM

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...

*''

Calochortus amoenus ''Calochortus amoenus'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family which is commonly known as purple fairy-lantern. Description ''Calochortus amoenus'' is a perennial herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widesprea ...

'' purple globelily - CA *''

Calochortus apiculatus ''Calochortus apiculatus'' is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family. Distribution ''Calochortus apiculatus'' is native to western Canada ( Alberta and British Columbia) and the northwestern United States. Most of the ...

'' pointedtip mariposa lily -

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, WA OR ID MT WY *'' Calochortus argillosus'' - CA *'' Calochortus aureus'' golden mariposa lily - UT CO AZ NM *''

Calochortus balsensis ''Calochortus balsensis'' is a Mexican species of flowering plants in the lily family. It is native to the States of Guerrero and Oaxaca in the southwestern part of the country.Oaxaca ) , population_note = , population_rank = 10th , timezone1 = CST , utc_offset1 = −6 , timezone1_DST = CDT , utc_offset1_DST = −5 , postal_code_type = Postal ...

Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in Municipalities of Guerrero, 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acap ...

*'' Calochortus barbatus'' yellow globe lily - from

Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places *Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mun ...

Oaxaca ) , population_note = , population_rank = 10th , timezone1 = CST , utc_offset1 = −6 , timezone1_DST = CDT , utc_offset1_DST = −5 , postal_code_type = Postal ...

*''

Calochortus bruneaunis ''Calochortus bruneaunis'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family, and is known by the common name Bruneau mariposa lily. Distribution The plant is native to the Great Basin and adjacent regions in the Western United States, from ea ...

'' Bruneau mariposa lily - CA OR NV UT ID MT *'' Calochortus catalinae'' Santa Catalina mariposa lily — (''threatened by development'') CA * ''

Calochortus cernuus ''Calochortus cernuus'' is a rare Mexican species of plants in the lily family. It is found only in the hills surrounding the community of Tepoztlán in the State of Morelos south of Mexico City, northeast of Cuernavaca. Description ''Calocho ...

'' -

Morelos Morelos (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Morelos ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 36 municipalities and its capital city is Cu ...

* '' Calochortus ciscoensis'' - UT *''

Calochortus clavatus ''Calochortus clavatus'' is a species of mariposa lily known by the common name clubhair mariposa lily. It is endemic to California where it is found in forests and on chaparral slopes.

'' clubhair mariposa lily - CA **''Calochortus clavatus var. avius'' -rare, **''Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis'' **''Calochortus clavatus ssp. clavatus'' **''Calochortus clavatus ssp. pallidus'' **''Calochortus clavatus ssp. recurvifolius'' — rare *'' Calochortus coeruleus'' beavertail grass - CA *''

Calochortus concolor ''Calochortus concolor'', also known by the common name goldenbowl mariposa lily, is a species of flowering plant in the lily family. It is endemic to the Peninsular Ranges, in Southern California (U.S.) and northern Baja California (México). ...

'' goldenbowl mariposa lily - CA,

*''

Calochortus coxii ''Calochortus coxii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Liliaceae, lily family known by the common names Cox's mariposa lily and crinite mariposa lily. It is Endemism, endemic to Oregon in the United States, where it is known only from ...

'' Cox's mariposa lily - OR *'' Calochortus dunnii'' Dunn's mariposa lily — rare - CA,

*''

Calochortus elegans ''Calochortus elegans'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name elegant Mariposa lily, cat's ear, elegant cat's ears or star tulip. It is native to the western United States from northern California to Montan ...

'' northwestern mariposa lily; star tulip - CA OR WA ID MT **''Calochortus elegans var. elegans'' elegant mariposa lily **''Calochortus elegans ''var.'' nanus'' **''Calochortus elegans ''var.'' oreophilus'' elegant mariposa lily **''Calochortus elegans ''var.'' selwayensis'' Selway mariposa lily *''

Calochortus eurycarpus ''Calochortus eurycarpus'' (white mariposa lily) is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family. It is native to the western United States: Montana, Idaho, eastern Oregon, western Wyoming, northeastern Nevada (Box Elder County ...

'' white mariposa lily - OR WA NV ID MT WY *''

Calochortus excavatus ''Calochortus excavatus'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Inyo County star-tulip. Distribution The flowering plant is endemic to eastern California, where it is known from several reduced and threaten ...

'' Inyo mariposa lily — (''threatened by groundwater development'') - CA *''

Calochortus exilis ''Calochortus exilis'' is a rare Mexican species of plants in the lily family. It is native to mountains in the State of Hidalgo in east-central Mexico. Description ''Calochortus exilis'' is a bulb-forming herb up to 15 cm tall, usually un ...

'' - Hidalgo *'' Calochortus fimbriatus'' late-blooming mariposa lily — rare - CA *''

Calochortus flexuosus ''Calochortus flexuosus'' is a species of lily known by the common names winding Mariposa lily and straggling Mariposa lily. This is a bulbous perennial wildflower native to the Southwestern United States, the Mojave Desert in California, and ...

'' winding mariposa lily - CA NV UT CO AZ NM

* ''

Calochortus foliosus ''Calochortus foliosus'' is a bulbous plant of the lily family. It is sometimes known by the common name leafy cyclobothra and belongs to subsection ''Purpurei'' within section ''Cyclobothra'' in the genus '' Calochortus''. It occurs in mountain ...

'' -

Michoacán Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo (; Purépecha: ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of ...

Calochortus fuscus ''Calochortus fuscus'' is a bulbous plant in the lily family native to Mexico. It is sometimes known by the common name Hinton's cyclobothra and belongs to subsection ''Ghiesbreghtiani'' within section ''Cyclobothra'' in the genus '' Calochortus ...

Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

*'' Calochortus greenei'' Green's mariposa lily — rare - CA OR *'' Calochortus ghiesbreghtii'' - Mexico, Guatemala *''

Calochortus gunnisonii ''Calochortus gunnisonii'' commonly known as Rocky Mountain mariposa or Gunnison mariposa lily is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family. It is native to the western United States, primarily in the Rocky Mountains and Bla ...

'' Gunnison's mariposa lily - ID MT WY SD NE CO UT AZ NM **''Calochortus gunnisonii'' var. ''gunnisonii'' **''Calochortus gunnisonii'' var. ''perpulcher'' *''

Calochortus hartwegii ''Calochortus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the lily family. The group includes herbaceous, perennial and bulbous species, all native to North America (primarily the Western United States). The genus ''Calochortus'' includes mariposas ( ...

'' -

Aguascalientes Aguascalientes (; ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and with an average altitude of a ...

Nayarit Nayarit (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit), is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its ...

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal ...

*'' Calochortus howellii'' Howell's mariposa lily - OR *†''

Calochortus indecorus ''Calochortus indecorus'' was a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Sexton Mountain mariposa lily. It was known only from Sexton Mountain in Josephine County, Oregon, in the United States. It is now presumed ex ...

'' Sexton Mountain mariposa lily - OR - extinct *'' Calochortus invenustus'' plain mariposa lily - CA NV *''

Calochortus kennedyi ''Calochortus kennedyi'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name desert mariposa lily. It is native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States ( Arizona, southern California, southern N ...

'' desert mariposa lily - CA NV AZ

**''Calochortus kennedyi'' var.'' kennedyi'' **''Calochortus kennedyi'' var.'' munzii'' *'' Calochortus leichtlinii'' smokey mariposa - CA NV OR *'' Calochortus longibarbatus'' longbeard mariposa lily - CA OR WA **''Calochortus longibarbatus'' var.'' longibarbatus'' — (''threatened by grazing'') **''Calochortus longibarbatus'' var.'' peckii'' *'' Calochortus luteus'' yellow mariposa lily - CA *''

Calochortus lyallii ''Calochortus lyallii'', or Lyall's mariposa lily, is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family. It is native and endemic to Province of British Columbia in western Canada, as well as the State of Washington in the northwes ...

'' Lyall's mariposa lily - WA,

*'' Calochortus macrocarpus'' sagebrush mariposa lily - CA NV OR WA ID MT,

**''Calochortus macrocarpus'' var.'' macrocarpus'' **''Calochortus macrocarpus'' var.'' maculosus'' Nez Perce mariposa lily *''

Calochortus marcellae ''Calochortus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the lily family. The group includes herbaceous, perennial and bulbous species, all native to North America (primarily the Western United States). The genus ''Calochortus'' includes mariposas ( ...

'' -

Nuevo León Nuevo León () is a state in the northeast region of Mexico. The state was named after the New Kingdom of León, an administrative territory from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, itself was named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León. With ...

Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

*'' Calochortus mendozae'' -

Querétaro Querétaro (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro, links=no; Otomi: ''Hyodi Ndämxei''), is one of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities. Its capi ...

, San Luis Potosí *'' Calochortus minimus'' Sierran mariposa lily - CA *†''

Calochortus monanthus ''Calochortus monanthus'' is a presumed extinct North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names single-flowered mariposa lily and Shasta River mariposa lily. It was endemic to northern California. It is pr ...

'' Shasta River mariposa lily — CA (''presumed extinct'') *''

Calochortus monophyllus ''Calochortus monophyllus'' is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name yellow star-tulip. ''Calochortus monophyllus'' is endemic to California. It is found in the foothill Interior oak woodland ...

'' yellow startulip - CA OR *'' Calochortus nigrescens'' -

Oaxaca ) , population_note = , population_rank = 10th , timezone1 = CST , utc_offset1 = −6 , timezone1_DST = CDT , utc_offset1_DST = −5 , postal_code_type = Postal ...

*'' Calochortus nitidus'' broadfruit mariposa lily - WA OR ID *''

Calochortus nudus ''Calochortus nudus'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name naked mariposa lily. It is native to the mountains of California and southwestern Oregon, where it grows in wet areas such as mead ...

'' naked mariposa lily - CA OR *'' Calochortus nuttallii'' sego lily, (''state flower of Utah'') - ND SD NE MT ID CO UT NV AZ NM *''

Calochortus obispoensis ''Calochortus obispoensis'' is a rare California species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name San Luis mariposa lily. It is endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it grows in the chaparral of the coastal ...

'' San Luis mariposa lily - CA *''

Calochortus palmeri ''Calochortus palmeri'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Palmer's mariposa lily and strangling mariposa. It is endemic to California, where it is distributed in the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular R ...

'' Palmer's mariposa lily - CA **Calochortus palmeri var. munzii Munz's mariposa lily **Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri — rare *''

Calochortus panamintensis ''Calochortus panamintensis'' is a rare North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name Panamint mariposa lily. It is native to Inyo and Kern Counties in California, plus adjacent Nye County, Nevada. It is ...

'' Panamint Mountain mariposa lily — rare ca NV *''

Calochortus persistens ''Calochortus persistens'' is a rare North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Siskiyou mariposa lily. It is native to northern California and southern Oregon. ''Calochortus persistens'' grows at abou ...

'' Siskiyou mariposa lily — rare - CA OR *'' Calochortus plummerae'' Plummer's mariposa lily — rare - CA *''

Calochortus pringlei ''Calochortus pringlei'' is a bulbous plant of the lily family. It is sometimes known by the common name Pringle's cyclobothra and belongs to subsection ''Ghiesbreghtiani'' within section ''Cyclobothra'' in the genus '' Calochortus''. It occurs ...

'' -

Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...

Oaxaca ) , population_note = , population_rank = 10th , timezone1 = CST , utc_offset1 = −6 , timezone1_DST = CDT , utc_offset1_DST = −5 , postal_code_type = Postal ...

*'' Calochortus pulchellus'' Mount Diablo globelily - CA *''

Calochortus raichei ''Calochortus raichei'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Cedars' fairy-lantern. It is endemic to Sonoma County, California, where it is known only from The Cedars, an unincorporated area outside Gu ...

'' Cedars mariposa lily - CA *''

Calochortus simulans ''Calochortus simulans'' is a California species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name San Luis Obispo mariposa lily, not to be confused with the San Luis mariposa lily '' C. obispoensis''. Distribution It is native to ...

'' San Luis Obispo mariposa lily - CA *'' Calochortus spatulatus'' -

*'' Calochortus splendens'' splendid mariposa lily - CA,

*''

Calochortus striatus ''Calochortus striatus'', known by the common name alkali mariposa lily, is a species of mariposa lily native to California and into Nevada. It is a vulnerable species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered P ...

'' alkali mariposa lily - CA NV *''

Calochortus subalpinus ''Calochortus subalpinus'', the subalpine mariposa lily, is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family native to the northwestern United States (States of Washington and Oregon). Description ''Calochortus subalpinus'' is a ...

'' subalpine mariposa lily, Cascade mariposa lily, cat's ear lily - WA OR *''

Calochortus superbus ''Calochortus superbus'' is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name superb mariposa lily. It is endemic to California, a common member of the flora in several types of habitat across much of the ...

'' superb mariposa - CA *''

Calochortus syntrophus ''Calochortus syntrophus'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Callahan's mariposa lily and clustered mariposa lily. It is endemic to northern California, where it occurs in a remote area north of M ...

'' Callahan's mariposa lily - CA *'' Calochortus tiburonensis'' Tiburon mariposa - CA *'' Calochortus tolmiei'' Tolmie's star-tulip, hairy pussy ears - CA OR WA *'' Calochortus umbellatus'' Oakland mariposa lily - CA *'' Calochortus umpquaensis'' Umpqua mariposa lily - OR *'' Calochortus uniflorus'' mariposa 'Cupido' - CA OR * ''

Calochortus venustulus ''Calochortus venustulus'' is a Mexican species of plants in the lily family native to central and eastern Mexico and bearing yellow flowers. Two varieties are recognized.Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

*'' Calochortus venustus'' butterfly mariposa, white mariposa - CA *''

Calochortus vestae ''Calochortus vestae'' is a California species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name coast range mariposa lily. It is grows primarily in the forests of the North Coast Ranges of California ( Sonoma, Lake, and Mendoc ...

'' Vesta's mariposa, Coast Range mariposa - CA *'' Calochortus weedii'' Weed's mariposa - CA, Baja Calilfornia *''

Calochortus westonii ''Calochortus westonii'', common name Shirley Meadows star-tulip, is a rare endemic plant known only from the Greenhorn Mountains range of the southern Sierra Nevada, within Kern and Tulare Counties, California. It grows in open locations in ...

'' Shirley Meadow star-tulip, Weston's mariposa - CA

Distribution and habitat

The genus ''Calochortus'' includes approximately 70 species distributed from southwestern

, through

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

and

, to northern Guatemala and eastwards to

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the so ...

and the Dakotas. ''Calochortus'' is the most widely dispersed genus of

on the North American Pacific Coast.Dale, Nancy; ''Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains'', Capra Press, 1986; pg. 28 Of these, 28 species are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

. In 1998, T.B. Patterson conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the genus, dividing it into seven main clades. The study indicated highly localized speciation, so that different clades were strongly linked to specific habitats, as follows: *Mariposas: dry grasslands, open

chaparral Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state of California, in southern Oregon, and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterrane ...

, semideserts *Star-tulips: wet meadows *Cat's ears: montane woodlands *Fairy lanterns: oak woodlands, closed forests.

Uses

;Culinary The bulbs of many species were eaten by Native Americans. These bulbs were eaten raw or gathered in the fall and boiled, and the flower buds when young and fresh. They were eaten by the

Mormon Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into seve ...

settlers between 1853 and 1858 when famine threatened new immigrants in the Great Salt Lake Valley, due to crop failures. Native Americans called ''Calochortus'' "sego". They used it as food, in ceremonies and as a traditional

medicinal plant Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defense and protection a ...

. ;Cultivation Some ''Calochortus'' species are cultivated as

ornamental plants Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

by specialty nurseries and botanic gardens to sell.Telos Rare Bulbs Nursery database: ''Calochortus''
/ref> The bulbs are planted for their flowers, in traditional,

native plant In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...

, and wildlife gardens; in rock gardens; and in potted container gardens for those needing unwatered Summer dormancy.

Notes

References

*
Treatment from the Jepson Manual (TJM93)
* Gerritsen, Mary E and Parsons, R. ''Calochortus. Mariposa Lilies and Their Relatives''. Timber Press, 2007.
Pacific Bulb Society

External links

* *
Calflora Database: ''Calochortus''
— ''all species native to California''.
photos by Mark Egger, Flickriver search for ''Calochortus''
many photos of many species
Jepson Manual (TJM93): Key to California ''Calochortus'' speciesGenus overview, Key to North American species

Gallery of Photos. US and Mexican Calochortus Species and Natural Hybrids
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1288804 Liliaceae genera Flora of the Western United States Flora of Mexico Flora of Western Canada Flora of California Taxa named by Frederick Traugott Pursh Garden plants of North America

Description

Distribution and habitat

Uses

See also

Notes

References

External links