Calochortus elegans
Species of flowering plant / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calochortus elegans is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name elegant Mariposa lily, cat's ear, elegant cat's ears or star tulip.[3][4] It is native to the western United States from northern California to Montana.[2][5]
Calochortus elegans | |
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Calochortus elegans in Klamath Mountains | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Liliaceae |
Genus: | Calochortus |
Species: | C. elegans |
Binomial name | |
Calochortus elegans Pursh 1813 not Baker 1875 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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It is a perennial herb producing a slender, generally unbranched stem up to 15 centimeters in height. The basal leaf is 10 to 20 centimeters long and does not wither at flowering. The inflorescence bears 1 to 7 erect bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three sepals and three petals with very hairy inner surfaces and edges. Each petal is greenish white in color with a purple crescent above a hairless patch at the base. The fruit is a winged capsule about 2 centimeters long.[6]
The bulb is a choice wild root vegetable when eaten cooked, and can be eaten raw to avoid starvation.[7] It grows in open woodland and grassy hillsides.[8]
- Varieties[2]
- Calochortus elegans var. amoenus (Greene) auct.
- Calochortus elegans var. amoenus hort.
- Calochortus elegans var. elegans Pursh - Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- Calochortus elegans var. lobbii Baker
- Calochortus elegans var. major Hook.
- Calochortus elegans var. minor Hook.
- Calochortus elegans var. nanus Alph.Wood - Oregon, northern California
- Calochortus elegans var. oreophilus Ownbey
- Calochortus elegans var. selwayensis (H.St.John) Ownbey - Idaho, Montana
- Calochortus elegans var. subclavatus Baker