Naked mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Naked mariposa lily |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
|
| Species: |
nudus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Calochortus nudus is a beautiful wild flower from North America. It belongs to the lily family. People often call it the naked mariposa lily.
This plant grows in the mountains of California and southwestern Oregon. You can find it in wet places like meadows and bogs near lakes.
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows a single stem that can reach about 25 centimeters (10 inches) tall.
It has a long leaf at its base, usually 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long. This leaf stays green even when the flower blooms.
The plant produces one or more flowers. These flowers stand upright and are shaped like bells. Each flower has three small, pointed sepals. It also has three wider petals. All parts are usually pink or lavender in color.
The petals are mostly smooth and do not have many hairs. They are about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long.
After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long.
The name "nudus" comes from a Latin word meaning "nude" or "naked." This refers to the petals of this flower. Unlike many other plants in its group, its petals are smooth and lack hairs.
Where Does It Grow?
Calochortus nudus mainly grows in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is also found in the southern Cascade Range. You can find it from Josephine and Jackson Counties in Oregon. It stretches south to Tulare County in California. There is also one report of this plant growing in eastern San Bernardino County.
