Monterey mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monterey mariposa lily |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Calochortus
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| Species: |
uniflorus
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The Calochortus uniflorus, also known as the Monterey mariposa lily or large-flowered star-tulip, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. This plant grows naturally in parts of western Oregon and California. You can find it as far south as San Luis Obispo County.
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Where the Monterey Mariposa Lily Grows
This special lily loves moist places. It often grows in meadows found in coastal hills. You can also spot it in lower parts of mountains. Most of these plants live in the Coast Ranges. However, some populations are also found in the Cascades and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
What the Monterey Mariposa Lily Looks Like
The Monterey mariposa lily is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant with soft stems that comes back year after year. It grows a short stem that usually doesn't branch out. This stem is often less than 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The plant has a long leaf at its base, which can be up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long. This leaf stays green even when the plant flowers. There might also be a few shorter leaves higher up on the stem.
The plant produces a loose group of 1 to 5 flowers. These flowers stand upright and are shaped like bells. Each flower has three petals, which can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. Underneath the petals, there are three shorter sepals. The petals are usually white or pink. They might even have purple spots near their bases.
Fruit
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit called a capsule. This capsule can grow up to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
