Calochortus nudus
Naked mariposa lily
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Calochortus nudus (Naked mariposa lily) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by distinctive lack of stem leaves and glabrous petals.
Naked mariposa lily is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern high Sierra Nevada, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist, grassy areas and lake and bog margins at elevations of 1,200 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this delicate lily produces white to pale lavender bell-shaped flowers with petals 14 to 16 millimeters long and distinctive purple anthers. Growing with slender stems 10 to 25 centimeters tall that are generally simple and unbranched, it emerges with a single basal leaf 5 to 15 centimeters long. Its flowers feature lance-ovate sepals and a shallow nectary bordered by a wide, ciliate membrane, creating an elegant and distinctive appearance. The plant produces an erect, winged fruit 15 to 20 millimeters long with irregular, light brown seeds featuring a distinctive net-like texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; distinctive lack of stem leaves and glabrous petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, grassy areas, lake, bog margins
Elevation: 1200-2500 m
California counties: Mendocino, Butte, Shasta, Placer, Plumas, Mariposa, Trinity, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Lassen, Nevada, Madera, Tuolumne, Tehama, Calaveras, Tulare, Sonoma, Amador, Fresno, Yuba, Alpine
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Calochortus nudus blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Clarkia: Calochortus has 6 stamens and grass-like leaves; Clarkia has 8 stamens and broad stem leaves.; vs Fritillaria: Calochortus flowers open upward/outward in cups; Fritillaria flowers hang downward like bells.; vs Thismia: Calochortus has green leaves and open flowers; Thismia is leafless with closed tubular flowers.; vs Eschscholzia: Calochortus has 6 petals and parallel-veined leaves; Eschscholzia has 4 petals and divided leaves.; vs Sidalcea: Calochortus has 6 petals and grass-like leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and rounded lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calochortus nudus native to California?
Yes. Calochortus nudus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calochortus nudus bloom?
Calochortus nudus blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Calochortus nudus grow?
Calochortus nudus occurs in Mendocino, Butte, Shasta, Placer, Plumas, Mariposa, Trinity, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2500 m.
What plant family does Calochortus nudus belong to?
Calochortus nudus is in the Liliaceae family, genus Calochortus.
What habitat does Calochortus nudus grow in?
Calochortus nudus grows in Moist, grassy areas, lake, bog margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Calochortus obispoensis — San luis mariposa lily
- Calochortus palmeri — Palmer's mariposa lily
- Calochortus palmeri var. munzii — San jacinto mariposa lily
- Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri — Palmer's mariposa lily
- Calochortus panamintensis — Panamint mariposa lily
- Calochortus persistens — Siskiyou mariposa lily
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.