Callahan's mariposa lily facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Callahan's mariposa lily
Conservation status
Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Calochortus
Species:	syntrophus

Calochortus syntrophus is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. People often call it Callahan's mariposa lily or clustered mariposa lily. This rare plant grows only in a small part of northern California.

Meet Callahan's Mariposa Lily

Where Does It Live?

Callahan's mariposa lily is found only in northern California. This means it is endemic to that area. You can find it in remote spots in Shasta County. It has also been seen in nearby Tehama County.

This lily likes open, rocky places. It grows best where the soil is moist or wet. It often lives in areas with oak trees.

How Was It Discovered?

Scientists first found this plant in 1993. They then wrote a detailed description of it in 1994. This helped them officially name and classify the new species.

What Does It Look Like?

This plant has a thick, waxy stem. It can grow to be about 40 to 60 centimeters tall. That's about 16 to 24 inches.

It grows from a bulb underground. Sometimes, this bulb splits. New stems can then grow up nearby.

The leaves near the bottom of the plant are long. They can be 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) long. Leaves higher up on the stem are shorter.

Its Beautiful Flowers

The plant usually has one flower. Sometimes, it has a cluster of up to five flowers. These flowers look like a small umbrella.

Each flower has three sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are shaped like spears. They are 2 to 4 centimeters long.

The main part of the flower is bell-shaped. It has three whitish petals. Each petal is 3 to 5 centimeters long. That's about 1 to 2 inches.

Near the bottom of each petal, you might see a reddish-brown spot. The very base of the flower is yellow. It also has tiny, whiskery hairs. As the flowers get older, their white petals slowly turn pink.