Calochortus persistens

Siskiyou mariposa lily

Family: Liliaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Siskiyou mariposa lily is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the northeastern Klamath Ranges in Siskiyou County, growing in open, rocky areas at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pink to purple flowers with yellow-fringed petals in an umbel-like cluster, with two erect blooms measuring 35 to 40 millimeters long. Growing with a simple stem about 10 centimeters tall, it has persistent basal leaves up to 20 centimeters long and a single cauline leaf. Its distinctive petals are obovate, yellow-ciliate, and hairy above the nectary, with a wide, ciliate membrane bordering the nectary. The fruit is nodding, approximately 1 centimeter long, and winged.

Habitat: Open, rocky areas

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: 1000-1500 m

Bioregions: ne KR (Siskiyou Co.).

California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity, Orange

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