''Calochortus splendens'' is a North American species of

mariposa lily ''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 ...

known by the common name splendid mariposa lily.Douglas, David 1835. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, series. 2 1(5): 411–412, plate 15, figure A ''Calochortus splendens'' is native to coastal mountains and valleys of

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

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 ...

, as far north as Lake County. It is found in various habitats, including chaparral and woodland.Calflora taxon report, University of California @ Berkeley, ''Calochortus splendens'' Benth. splendid mariposa, splendid mariposa lily
/ref>

Description

''Calochortus splendens'' is a thin-stemmed lily with few leaves.Flora of North America, Vol. 26 Page 122, 133 ''Calochortus splendens'' Douglas ex Bentham
/ref> It bears flowers singly or in

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

s of up to four. Each flower is ringed with smaller, ribbonlike, curling bracts. The bowl-shaped flowers are of varying shades of purple, often lavender, with a spot of darker purple at the base of each petal. The flower may have plentiful white hairs in the center and bright purple pollen.

References

External links

Calflora Database: ''Calochortus splendens'' (Splendid mariposa lily)Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Calochortus splendens''USDA Plants Profile for ''Calochortus splendens'' (splendid mariposa lily)UC Calphotos gallery: ''Calochortus splendens''
splendens Flora of California Flora of Baja California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Plants described in 1835 Taxa named by George Bentham Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{liliales-stub