Calochortus and Related Species

This page last modified on 22 July, 2000

Links to the photos:

• ThumbsMap
• Table of Contents (scientific names)
• Index (common names)

This is Weed's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus weedii var. weedii), a common late springtime flower seen throughout San Diego County on the coastal side of the mountains. It grows only in Southern California. The flower reminds one of a small tulip, but with some very unusual characteristics. Most notable is the mat of short hairs that covers the inner surfaces of the petals.

There are many other species of Calochortus growing in California, though Splendid Mariposa is the other species typically seen commonly around San Diego County. On trips further north in California, I've been quite fascinated by the beauty and subtle differences among the many related species one typically sees. Hence it seemed worthwhile to display a special subject collection of photos on the Calochortus species alone. Among the more interesting:

Tiburon Mariposa Lily (Calochortus tiburonensis). Grows only on Ring Mountain just north of the town of Tiburon (north San Francisco Bay).

Diogenes Lantern (Calochortus amabalis). Found in open woodland at Boggs Lake (Lake County, 100 miles N. of San Francisco). Boggs Lake is really a giant vernal pool.

The sets of photos in this series is in the order one would encounter if taking a trip:

• starting in San Diego, then
• proceeding up the San Joaquin Valley to just north of Bakersfield, then
• crossing over to the coast at Big Sur, then
• going to the foothills east of San Jose, then
• to the back country near Palo Alto, then
• to Ring Mountain north of San Francisco Bay, then
• to Santa Rosa, then
• to Boggs Lake in Lake County, and finally
• to several locations in the Sierra Nevada.