Leichtlin's mariposa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leichtlin's mariposa |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Genus: | Calochortus |
| Species: |
C. leichtlinii
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| Binomial name | |
| Calochortus leichtlinii |
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Calochortus leichtlinii is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. People often call it Leichtlin's mariposa, smokey mariposa, or mariposa lily.
This plant naturally grows in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Modoc Plateau in California. You can also find it in nearby parts of the Great Basin, like southeastern Oregon and western Nevada. It likes to grow in pine forests and chaparral areas. This includes grassy hills near the Central Valley.
Long ago, Native Americans would eat the small bulbs that grow underground from this plant.
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What Does Leichtlin's Mariposa Look Like?
Calochortus leichtlinii is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It's also a herb, so it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree.
It grows a straight stem that doesn't branch out. This stem can reach up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. The main leaf at the bottom of the plant is usually 10 to 15 centimeters long. This leaf dries up and disappears by the time the plant flowers.
The Flowers of the Mariposa Lily
The plant has a loose group of 1 to 5 flowers. These flowers stand upright and are shaped like bells. Each flower has three petals. These petals are usually 1 to 4 centimeters long.
The petals can be white, pinkish, or a dull blue color. They often have yellow spots and dark red or black marks. The bases of the petals are usually hairy. The exact colors and patterns can look very different depending on where the plant grows.
What About the Fruit?
After the flower blooms, it produces a fruit. This fruit is a narrow capsule. It can grow up to 6 centimeters long.
See also
In Spanish: Calochortus leichtlinii para niños
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
