Weed's mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weed's mariposa lily |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
|
| Species: |
weedii
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Calochortus weedii, also known as Weed's mariposa lily, is a beautiful flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the lily family. This special lily grows mostly in the southern parts of California and Baja California, which is in Mexico. You can often find it in areas with chaparral plants, which are tough shrubs that grow in dry places.
Most of these lilies grow between Santa Barbara County and San Diego County in Southern California. There's also one group of these plants found further north, near Salmon Creek in Monterey County.
Contents
About Weed's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus weedii is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems, not woody ones like a tree. Its stem is thin and branches out, growing to be about 30 to 90 centimeters (about 1 to 3 feet) tall.
When the plant is young, it has a long leaf at its base, which can be up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long. This leaf usually dries up and disappears by the time the plant starts to bloom.
Flower Description
The plant produces 2 to 6 flowers on its stem. These flowers stand upright and are shaped like wide bells or spread out flat. Each flower has three narrow parts called sepals and three wider parts called petals. Both the sepals and petals can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long.
The petals are often oval or wedge-shaped. They can be many different colors, like cream, bright yellow, or even reddish-purple. You might also see reddish-brown edges and small spots on the petals. If you look closely, you'll see that the inside surface of the petals is covered with tiny hairs.
Fruit of the Plant
After the flower blooms, it forms a capsule. This capsule is the plant's fruit, and it holds the seeds. It is angled and can be about 4 to 5 centimeters (about 1.6 to 2 inches) long.
Different Types of Weed's Mariposa Lily
Scientists have found a few different types, or "varieties," of Calochortus weedii. These varieties are slightly different from each other, often based on where they grow:
- Calochortus weedii var. intermedius is found in Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties in California.
- Calochortus weedii var. peninsularis grows in Baja California, Mexico.
- Calochortus weedii var. weedii is the most common type and grows in both California and Baja California.
