Calochortus plummerae
Encyclopedia
Calochortus plummerae is a species of mariposa lily
known by the common name Plummer's mariposa lily. It is endemic to Southern California
where it is found along the coast and inland hills. It is a member of the chaparral
plant community. It produces thin, branching stems and a few long curling leaves. Atop the stem is a lily bloom with long, pointed sepal
s and petal
s which may be up to 4 centimeters long. The petals are pink, lavender, or white with a wide yellow band across the middle. They are hairy inside and sometimes fringed with hairs. The center contains large whitish or yellowish anthers
. The fruit capsule
is up to 8 centimeters long.
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 Plummer's 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 coast and inland hills. It is a member of the chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
plant community. It produces thin, branching stems and a few long curling leaves. Atop the stem is a lily bloom with long, pointed 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 and 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 which may be up to 4 centimeters long. The petals are pink, lavender, or white with a wide yellow band across the middle. They are hairy inside and sometimes fringed with hairs. The center contains large whitish or yellowish anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. The fruit capsule
Capsule (fruit)
In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a structure composed of two or more carpels that in most cases is dehiscent, i.e. at maturity, it splits apart to release the seeds within. A few capsules are indehiscent, for example...
is up to 8 centimeters long.