Plummer's mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plummer's mariposa lily |
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| In Franklin Canyon Park Santa Monica Mountains |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
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| Species: |
plummerae
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| Synonyms | |
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Cyclobothra plummerae (Greene) Hoover |
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Calochortus plummerae is a lovely wild flower known as Plummer's mariposa lily. It is a type of mariposa lily, which means "butterfly lily" in Spanish. This name comes from the beautiful, often brightly colored petals that look like butterfly wings.
This special lily grows only in Southern California. It was named after an American botanist, Sara Plummer Lemmon (1836 – 1923), who studied plants.
Contents
Where Does Plummer's Mariposa Lily Grow?
Plummer's mariposa lily is found only in certain parts of Southern California. This means it is endemic to that area. You can find it in places near the coast, in hills further inland, and in some mountain ranges. These mountains include the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges.
This lily likes to grow in different natural areas. It can be found in chaparral (a type of shrubland), open grasslands, and in lower parts of forests with cone-bearing trees.
What Does Plummer's Mariposa Lily Look Like?
Plummer's mariposa lily grows thin, branching stems. It also has a few long leaves that often curl.
The Flowers
At the top of each stem, you will find a beautiful lily flower. Each flower has long, pointed parts called sepals. These are usually green or brownish and protect the flower bud. Inside, there are colorful petals that can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long.
The petals are often pink, lavender, or white. They have a wide yellow band across their middle. If you look closely, you'll see that the inside of the petals is hairy. Sometimes, the edges of the petals are also fringed with fine hairs. In the very center of the flower, there are large, whitish or yellowish anthers. These are parts of the flower that hold pollen.
You can usually see these lovely flowers blooming from May to July.
The Fruit
After the flower blooms, it forms a fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is a dry case that holds the seeds. The fruit capsule of Plummer's mariposa lily can grow up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long.
See also
In Spanish: Lirio mariposa para niños
