Calochortus catalinae
Encyclopedia
Calochortus catalinae is a species of mariposa lily
known by the common name Santa Catalina mariposa lily. It is endemic to Southern California
where it is found along the coastline, and especially on the Channel Islands
. This plant produces long basal leaves and tall, branching stems up to 60 centimeters high. The purple-tinted sepal
s are up to 3 centimeters long and the longer petal
s are usually white or very pale pink with a blotch of purple or deep red at the bases. The bowl of the petals may have sparse long hairs. The anthers
are usually light in color, often pink.
Calochortus
Calochortus is a genus of bulbous plants that includes 70 species from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to Nebraska. Calochortus is the most widely dispersed genus of Liliaceae on the North American Pacific coast. Of these, 28 species are endemic to California...
known by the common name Santa Catalina mariposa lily. It is endemic to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
where it is found along the coastline, and especially on the Channel Islands
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
. This plant produces long basal leaves and tall, branching stems up to 60 centimeters high. The purple-tinted sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s are up to 3 centimeters long and the longer petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s are usually white or very pale pink with a blotch of purple or deep red at the bases. The bowl of the petals may have sparse long hairs. The anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
are usually light in color, often pink.