Splendid or lilac mariposa lily is an erect, sparingly-branched perennial with a stem to about 2' tall.  This beautiful member of the lily family has basal leaves 4" to 6" inches long and very narrow, usually withering early, and cauline leaves reduced.  The campanulate flowers are narrow at the base, the sepals are acuminate, the petals are obovate to cuneate, deep lilac in color often with a purple spot.  The glands are covered densely with fungus-like hairs.  The anthers are dark on filaments about 1/2" long.  Lilac mariposa is a frequent occupant of dry slopes in heavy soils of coast ranges, grassland and chaparral up to an elevation of 7000', blooming from May to June.  These pictures were taken at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Calochortus 2) splendens.
Pronunciation: kal-oh-KOR-tus SPLEN-dens.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.