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.[3][4]
Calochortus leichtlinii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Liliaceae |
Genus: | Calochortus |
Species: | C. leichtlinii
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Binomial name | |
Calochortus leichtlinii | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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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.[5] 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.[6][7]
The small underground bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans.
Description
editCalochortus 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.[8] These color patterns vary widely among different regional and local populations.
The fruit is a narrow capsule up to 6 centimeters long.
References
edit- ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Calochortus leichtlinii". NatureServe Explorer Calochortus leichtlinii. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, "Common Name: Mariposa Lily"
- ^ 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
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California @ Berkeley: Calochortus leichtlinii (Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily, smokey mariposa)
- ^ Flora of North America, Calochortus leichtlinii
- ^ sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, Scientific Name: Calochortus Leichtlinii
External links
edit- Jepson Manual Treatment of Calochortus leichtlinii
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for Calochortus leichtlinii
- Calochortus leichtlinii — Calphotos Photos gallery, University of California