Goldenbowl mariposa lily facts for kids

The Calochortus concolor, often called the goldenbowl mariposa lily, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family, just like many other well-known flowers. This plant is special because it only grows in certain areas.

You can find the goldenbowl mariposa lily in the Peninsular Ranges. This area stretches from Southern California in the United States down into northern Baja California in Mexico. It likes to grow on hillsides in different types of natural areas. These include chaparral (a type of shrubland), woodlands, and forests.

What Does the Goldenbowl Mariposa Lily Look Like?

The goldenbowl mariposa lily is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It's also an herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree.

How Tall Does It Grow?

This lily grows a straight stem that can be anywhere from 30 to 60 centimeters tall. That's about the length of a ruler or two! At the bottom of the plant, there's a waxy leaf. This leaf is quite long, usually 10 to 20 centimeters. It starts to dry up and disappear when the plant begins to flower.

The Beautiful Flowers

The top of the stem holds the plant's flowers. This cluster of flowers is called an inflorescence. Each plant can have 1 to 7 flowers. They are bell-shaped and stand upright. Each flower has three sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. It also has three bright yellow petals. Near the bottom of these petals, you might see some reddish spots, adding to their beauty.

What About the Fruit?

After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a narrow, angled capsule. It can grow up to 8 centimeters long. Inside this capsule are the seeds, ready to grow into new goldenbowl mariposa lily plants!