Kingdom Plantae Family Liliaceae Scientific name Calochortus palmeri Rank Species | Order Liliales Genus Calochortus Higher classification Calochortus | |
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Similar Calochortus simulans, Calochortus, Calochortus dunnii, Calochortus obispoensis, Calochortus argillosus | ||
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 Ranges of Southern California (Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, and San Diego Counties). There is also a report of an isolated population in the Diablo Range in San Benito County
Description
Calochortus palmeri is a perennial herb producing a straight, branching stem up to 60 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 10 to 20 centimeters long and withers by flowering.
The inflorescence bears 1 to 6 erect, open bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three brown-speckled sepals 3 centimeters long and three wider petals each 2 or 3 centimeters long. The petals are white to light lavender and have bases with yellow or purple hairs, or lacking hairs, depending on variety.