Superb mariposa lily facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Superb mariposa lily
Scientific classification
Genus:	Calochortus
Species:	superbus
Synonyms
Mariposa superba (Purdy ex Howell) Hoover Calochortus venustus var. citrinus Baker Calochortus venustus var. lilacinus Baker Calochortus luteus var. citrinus (Baker) S.Watson Calochortus luteus var. robustus Purdy Calochortus superbus var. pratensis Purdy ex J.T.Howell Calochortus pratensis (Purdy ex J.T.Howell) Hoover Mariposa pratensis (Purdy ex J.T.Howell) Hoover

Calochortus superbus is a North American species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name superb mariposa lily. It is endemic to California, a common member of the flora in several types of habitat across much of the state. It is most abundant in the Coast Ranges and in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Description

Calochortus superbus is a perennial herb growing up to 40 to 60 centimeters tall with a basal leaf up to 30 centimeters long which withers by flowering. The inflorescence is a loose cluster of 1 to 3 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three sepals and three petals all up to 4 centimeters long and blotched with yellow at the bases. There is generally a darker spot within the yellow area, and the base color of the segments may be white to light purple or solid yellow. The fruit is an angled capsule 5 or 6 centimeters long. This plant resembles Calochortus venustus, a chief discriminant being the oval to crescent shaped nectary of C. luteus compared to the squarish nectary of C. superbus.