San Luis Obispo mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Luis Obispo mariposa lily |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
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| Species: |
simulans
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Calochortus simulans is a beautiful flowering plant found in California. It belongs to the lily family. People often call it the San Luis Obispo mariposa lily. It's important not to mix it up with another similar plant, the San Luis mariposa lily (C. obispoensis).
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Where Does This Lily Grow?
This special plant is native to a specific part of California. You can find it growing naturally in San Luis Obispo County, California. Its home also stretches a bit south into the northern areas of Santa Barbara County. This means it's a local Californian plant!
What Does the San Luis Obispo Mariposa Lily Look Like?
The Calochortus simulans is a type of perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows a stem that can reach up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. This stem often has branches.
When the plant starts to grow, it has a long leaf at its base. This leaf can be between 10 to 20 centimeters (about 4 to 8 inches) long. However, this basal leaf usually dries up and disappears by the time the plant flowers.
Its Beautiful Flowers
The flowers of the San Luis Obispo mariposa lily are quite striking. They grow in a loose group, usually with 1 to 3 flowers. Each flower stands upright and has a bell shape.
Every flower has three curving sepals. Sepals are like small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. It also has three longer petals. These petals can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long. The petals are usually white or yellow. They have a distinct deep red spot right at their base. This spot makes them very unique!
Seeds and Fruit
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit called a capsule. This capsule is angled and can be about 5 or 6 centimeters (about 2 to 2.4 inches) long. Inside the capsule are the seeds, ready to grow new plants.
