Calochortus argillosus

Clay mariposa lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Clay mariposa lily is a California native perennial found in western central California in hard clay habitats from volcanic or metamorphic rocks at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this lily produces white to purple flowers with a pale yellow background and a central red spot, with petals 20 to 40 millimeters long and a distinctive bell-shaped perianth. Growing 40 to 60 centimeters tall with a simple stem and small bulblets, the plant has basal leaves up to 30 centimeters long that wither during flowering. Its leaves become progressively reduced up the stem, with 1 to 4 erect flowers emerging from a somewhat umbel-like inflorescence. The plant produces an erect, lanceolate fruit 4 to 6 centimeters long, with distinctive purple, pink, or yellow-white anthers and a crescent-shaped nectary densely covered in short hairs.

Habitat: Hard clay from volcanic or metamorphic rocks

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: < 800 m

Bioregions: w CW.

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, San Benito

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.