Calochortus leichtlinii

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Calochortus_leichtlinii.jpg

|genus = Calochortus

|species = leichtlinii

|authority = Hook.f.

|synonyms_ref = [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?name_id=301708 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]

|synonyms =

  • Calochortus nuttallii var. leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Smiley
  • Mariposa leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Hoover
  • Calochortus nuttallii var. subalpinus M.E.Jones

| status = G4

| status_system = TNC

| status_ref = {{Cite web|date=2022-05-30 |url= https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142121|access-date=30 May 2022 |website=NatureServe Explorer Calochortus leichtlinii|title = NatureServe Explorer - Calochortus leichtlinii |publisher=NatureServe}}

}}

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.[http://www.sierrawildflowers.org/calochortus_leichtlinii.htm sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, "Common Name: Mariposa Lily"][https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/439645#page/151/mode/1up 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

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.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Calochortus%20leichtlinii.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map] 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.[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Calochortus+leichtlinii Calflora taxon report, University of California @ Berkeley: Calochortus leichtlinii (Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily, smokey mariposa)][http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101475 Flora of North America, Calochortus leichtlinii]

The small underground bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans.

Description

Calochortus 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.[http://www.sierrawildflowers.org/calochortus_leichtlinii.htm sierrawildflowers.org, Sierra Wildflowers, Scientific Name: Calochortus Leichtlinii] These color patterns vary widely among different regional and local populations.

The fruit is a narrow capsule up to 6 centimeters long.

File:Leichtlins Mariposa Lily, Yosemite.jpg]]

File:Mariposa lily drift Calochortus leichtlinii.jpg]]

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References

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