Calochortus species starting with C and ending with D are found on this page
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index
Calochortus catalinae is found in grassy places near the coast from southern California to Baja. The flowers are large, white to lilac, usually with a purple spot at the base of each petal. Petals are naked except for a few slender hairs near the base. This species was seen April 2005 growing on Figueroa Mountain in Santa Barbara county in grassy areas along with Lupinus sp., Delphinium parryi and Dichelostemma capitatum. These in situ photos were taken there by Mary Sue Ittner.
Photo #1 is of plant grown from seed photographed by Bob Rutemoeller. Photos 2-5 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photo 5 shows the bulbs.
Calochortus cernuus is a Mexican species in the Cyclobothra section of Calochortus, subsection Purpurei. This species has erect, straight 20-40 cm glaucous stems that are sometimes branched, with nodding flowers held on on slender peduncles. This species is known only from the Sierra de Tepoxtlan (2000-2800m) in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Where it occurs, it can be locally abundant. The photos were taken in September of 2007 in two locations: in a volcanic area near the cuota and on the tops of the "knobs" of Tepoxtlan. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus clavatus is a Mariposa with golden flowers and a depressed gland. It is found in central and southern California. Some have unmarked petals, others range from heavily marked to lightly penciled in red brown. Anthers can be maroon red, pale brown, cream, pale lavender or beige. It can be a bit challenging to grow in very wet climates as it develops fungal infections. There is a wide variety in the various wild populations and five varieties recognized in the Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. Kew recognizes three varieties, but people observing this species in the wild say there is such a variation in the different populations, that even the characteristics that are supposed to separate them are not constant.
Calochortus clavatus var. avius is not accepted by Kew, but in Mariposa, the journal of the Calochortus Society, the Robinetts made a strong plea to retain it and variety clavatus. This variety is supposed to have petals smaller than the sepals and a very deep nectary and is rare, found in oak pine forests in El Dorado and Amador counties. It is geographically isolated from all of the other varieties of Calochortus clavatus, found in the Sierra Nevada mountains (all the other varieties are found in the South Coast Ranges) and thus deserving of the designation as a distinct variety. It grows in full sun, but in between mesquite bushes, and can be hard to find. It usually blooms later, from June to late July. The photos below were taken in a relatively recent burn (1995) area on the approach to Ice House Lake, El Dorado County, California. July 2006. Photos by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus is taller than some of the other varieties and has zig-zag stems. It has deep yellow petals, knobby hairs and deep purple anthers and is usually found growing on serpentine. This variety is widely accepted. Photo taken at Telos Rare Bulbs by Mary Sue Ittner. The second photo, taken by Ron Parsons , is from a population on Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo County, California. The third photo was taken by Susan Hayek.
Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis is smaller, sparsely hairy with a reddish brown line above the small shallow nectary and is found in northern Los Angeles county. This variety is not accepted by Kew and the Robinetts also did not think that size was enough reason to separate it. Photos taken by Ron Parsons from wild populations in Los Angeles County in May, 2005.
Calochortus clavatus var. pallidus is also bigger, like var. clavatus with zig zag stems. It has lighter yellow petals and hairs that are not very knobby and yellow to medium purple anthers. Accepted by Kew, the Robinetts questioned whether the lighter color was enough to separate it since various populations showed significant variation in color. The first photo was taken by Ron Parsons, from a wild population in San Benito County, California. The next three photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner of the first flowering of a plant grown from seed. The last photo was taken by Bob Rutemoeller.
Calochortus clavatus var. recurvifolius . This variety was found in coastal San Luis Obispo county and is a dwarf variant, hairy with recurved leaves and deep yellow petals with interesting markings and deep purple anthers. The Robinetts did not feel it warranted variety recognition. The first photos was taken by Sheila Burrow and the second at Telos Rare Bulbs by Mary Sue Ittner. The other photos were taken by Ron Parsons in early 1997 from a location in San Luis Obispo county.
Calochortus concolor is a golden species with erect, commonly branched stems 20-60 cm, that can carry one to eight bowl-shaped flowers. This species is found from the San Bernardino Mountains of California, south to the north Sierra Juarez in northern Baja Mexico. It grows in grasslands, chaparral, edges of coniferous forest, and in the desert mountains amongst the grasses, sagebrush, cacti and agave, elevations 600-2600 m. Photo #1 taken by Ron Parsons, Riverside County, California. Photo 2 taken by Jim Duggan. Photo 3 taken by Nhu Nguyen shows a bulb.
Calochortus coeruleus is one of the "Cat's Ear" calochortus, and the photo below clearly illustrates the resemblance to the inner surface of a Cat's ear. This is a small species, although we have seen up to 18 flowers on an individual stem, which makes it quite charming when you get down to the ground and take a close look at this little beauty. This species is found in Northern California, and is usually found in partial shade among grasses in meadows and in small clearing under trees at elevations of 900-2500m. The photo below was taken in mid July, 2006 near Castle Crag State Park, California. Photo by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus coxii is endemic to one ridge complex south of Roseburg and north of Myrtle Creek in Oregon. A short-stemmed plant with flowers that remain cup-shaped, it inhabits ultramafic (serpentine) soils in nature, but despite Callahan's (2001:113) suggestion that Epsom salts be added to its soil, the pictured plants are growing well without this amendment, in a bulb frame in northern Oregon. The first two photos by Jane McGary. Number three and four shown below were taken at the site of the type collection, June 2007 by Mary Gerritsen
Calochortus davidsonianus is currently classified as a form of Calochortus splendens, although it may well be a separate taxon. This form has more open flowers, short hairs near the rounded gland, non-bulbiferous stems and is often found in grassy meadows. Photo 1 by Mary Gerritsen was taken in late May at the top of Walker Ridge, east of Clear Lake, California. Photo #2 was taken by Nhu Nguyen of a plant in cultivation.
Calochortus dunnii, the smallest species of Section Mariposa, has slender, often branched stems bearing from two to eight upright, open bell-shaped flowers. This species is found in the Vulcan Mountains of San Diego County, California, south into the Guadalupe Mountains of Baja California. The photo below was taken in situ in San Diego County California. Photo by Ron Parsons.
Calochortus species A-B - Calochortus species E-Lo - Calochortus species Lu-N - Calochortus species O-R - Calochortus species S - Calochortus species T-U - Calochortus species V-Z - Calochortus hybrids - Calochortus index