Yellow mariposa lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow mariposa lily |
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| In flower on Mount Tamalpais | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calochortus
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| Species: |
luteus
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The yellow mariposa lily (Calochortus luteus) is a beautiful wild flower. It is a type of mariposa lily. This special plant grows only in California. This means it is endemic to California.
What Does the Yellow Mariposa Lily Look Like?
This lily has bright, deep yellow flowers. Each flower is about 3 to 5 centimeters wide. The flower petals are shaped like a bulb. Inside, they have red-brown lines. Often, there's also a red-brown spot in the middle. You might even see a few hairs inside the flower!
Where Does the Yellow Mariposa Lily Grow?
You can find this lily in several places in California. It likes to grow in coastal prairies. These are grassy areas near the ocean. It also grows in open grasslands. Sometimes, you can spot it on the floor of open forests.
Its home stretches along the coastal mountains. This includes areas from northern Santa Barbara County. You can also find it in Northwestern California and the Sacramento Valley. It even grows in the Sierra Nevada foothills, all the way to the Tehachapi Mountains.
How People Use the Yellow Mariposa Lily
People use Calochortus luteus in garden design. You can buy bulbs that are not taken from the wild. These are available from plant nurseries. People grow them as an ornamental plant in their gardens. They are also used in restoration projects. This helps bring back native plants to their natural homes.
