PBSWiki - Calochortus Species Five

Calochortus species starting with Lu and ending with R are found on this page.

Calochortus species A-B -- Calochortus species C-D -- Calochortus species E-Lo -- Calochortus species Lu-N -- Calochortus species S -- Calochortus species T-U -- Calochortus species V-Z -- Calochortus hybrids -- Calochortus index

Calochortus obispoensis, commonly known as the "San Luis Mariposa" is in Section Cyclobothra, subsection Weediani. This bizarre species was once described as to "assume a most fantastic form, the brownish petals being so much truncated that the sepals far exceed them" (Purdy, 1901). This species has a glaucous, erect, nonbulbiferous, stem, usually branching, that may have from 2 to as many 70 flowers, or even more. This is one of the Calochortus species that can put on a fabulous display following a fire. It is endemic to San Luis Obispo County California, and is usually found near the coast where it grows among grasses in full sun along mountain ridges, elevaton 75-730 m. Photo by Ron Parsons, taken in mid June, north of San Luis Obispo, San Luis County, California.

Calochortus ownbeyi is a recently described species, quite closely related to Calochortus venustulus , and may be confused with the latter in some floras.A wholly Mexican species, section Cyclobothra, subsection Ghiesbreghtiani, it is found in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Jalisco, in the Sierra Madre Occidental. It grows in open forests of pine and oak and elevations of 500-2500m. The photo shown here was taken in Jalisco, in a driving rainstorm (complete with thunder and lightning) in September of 2006. Photo by Mary Gerritsen

Calochortus palmeri is just one of over 100,000 botanical specimens collected by the early botanist, Edward Palmer. The stems of this species are 30-50 cm tall, often branched and bulbiferous, and may bear up to 7 erect, campanulate 3-5 cm flowers. This is a moisture loving species, and is usually found along streams or in seasonally wet meadows. It occurs from San Luis Obispo County, south to the Tehachapi, San Bernadino and San Jacinto Mountains of California, elevation 1000-2200 m. The photo shows two Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri plants in situ (Ventura County) showing a typical pink flower growing next to a white one. Photos by Ron Parsons.

Calochortus palmeri var. munzii is distinguished from the nominate variety by the lack of bulbiferous stems, and its habitat, usually dry and grassy. This variety is found in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County California, where the photo below, by Ron Parsons, was taken.

Calochortus panamintensis is a species endemic to California, and occurs in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley National Monument, Inyo County. It grows in between rocks and stones in high desert juniper and pine woodlands, at elevations of 2500-3200 ft. It may also occur in eastern Kern County. It is very similar (and perhaps not a distinct taxon at all) to Calochortus invenustus . Photo by Ron Parsons, Panamint Mountains, Inyo County, California.

Calochortus persistens is a rare and very localized species, known only from a few ridges near Yreka, California (Siskiyou County) and also from the sumiit of Bald Mountain in Jackson County. The photo below is from Gunsight Ridge, west of Yreka, and was taken in late June, 2007. Photo by Mary Gerritsen.

Calochortus plummerae is a species in section Cyclobothra, a section with bulbs that are netted. This southern California species grows in rocky clay soil often found with its base shaded and flowers in sun. A tall species, the flowers range in color from light pink through rose, lavender and purple. It has tulip shaped flowers with sepals longer than petals and is densely bearded with yellow hairs. Photo taken by Mary Sue Ittner at Telos Rare Bulbs.

Calochortus pringlei is a beautiful little Mexican species, section Cyclobothra, subsection Ghiebreghtiani. It has erect to somewhat lax, glaucous, sometimes branched stem 20-40 cm high with few, upright to leaning or descending, campanulate brownish red to dark red flowers. It is native to the states of Moreles and Puebla, Mexico, and may also occur in Jalisco. This species does not produce bulbils. We saw only a few of these in bloom (September 2007), in a much disturbed area above the well known silver crafts town of Taxco. The area was highly eroded, and there were only a few pockets of blooming plants. Photos by Mary Gerritsen

Calochortus pulchellus, is rare in the wild, from Mount Diablo near San Francisco. It is a fairy lantern type with yellow globe-shaped flowers. First photo by Mary Sue Ittner. The last two photos are habitat shots by Nhu Nguyen.

Although highly localized, this species can put on a fabulous display if you can find it! The photos below are from some of the hiking trails around Mt. Diablo, early May, 2006. Photos by Mary Gerritsen

Calochortus purpureus is one of the Mexican Calochortus species, Section Cyclobothra, subsection Purpurei. This species has erect, bulbiferous, glaucous stems that are 20-65 cm and bears two to four nodding, deep, bell-shaped 2.5-3.5 cm flowers. This species grows in meadows and tropical deciduous forests as well as conifer-oak forests in the states of Chihuahuha, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Guerrero, Morelos and Oaxaca at elevations of 1300-2500 m. The plants shown here are from Michoacan, Municipality de Morelia, San Miguel del Monte2300 m and were photographed in September of 2007. Photos by Mary Gerritsen

Calochortus raichei is a rare species endemic to a small rugged area in Sonoma County called the Cedars. Much of this area has serpentine soils and this species grows in these soils. It has been described as looking like a yellow Calochortus albus. It has yellow flowers with long tapering hairs in the nectary zone and is taller than Calochortus amabilis and Calochortus pulchellus which are also part of subsection Pulchelli of section Calochortus (commonly called the globe tulips or fairy lanterns.) Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller on June 17, 2006 at the Cedars showing this species in habitat and finally a close-up of the flowers.

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