| Calochortus elegans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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] | |
| |
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]
Contents
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. elegansPursh - Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- Calochortus elegans var. lobbiiBaker
- Calochortus elegans var. majorHook.
- Calochortus elegans var. minorHook.
- Calochortus elegans var. nanusAlph.Wood - Oregon, northern California
- Calochortus elegans var. oreophilusOwnbey
- Calochortus elegans var. selwayensis(H.St.John) Ownbey - Idaho, Montana
- Calochortus elegans var. subclavatusBaker
