The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links
Calochortus tolmiei

hairy star tulip, pussy ears, Tolmie star-tulip, Tolmie's cat's ear, Tolmie's mariposa-lily

Oakland mariposa lily, Oakland star-tulip

Stems

± slender, usually branching, 1–4 dm.

usually branching, 8–25 cm, not bearing bulblets.

Leaves

basal persistent, 1–4 dm;

blade lanceolate, tapering at base, flat;

cauline bractlike.

basal persistent, 2–4 dm;

blade lanceolate, flat;

cauline usually present.

Inflorescences

± umbellate, 1–several-flowered.

subumbellate, 3–12-flowered.

Flowers

erect or spreading;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals 10–15 mm;

petals white to pinkish or purplish, obovate, 12–25 mm, adaxial surface densely hairy, margins ciliate;

glands bordered proximally by ciliate membrane, distally by short hairs;

anthers lanceolate, apex acute to apiculate.

± erect;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals 10–14 mm;

petals white to pale pink, usually with purple blotch near gland, widely obovate to cuneate, 12–18 mm, adaxial surface not ciliate, ± glabrous, margins irregularly dentate distally;

glands basally convex, covered by broad, ciliate membrane, bordered distally by short hairs;

filaments longer than anthers;

anthers oblong, apex acute or obtuse.

Capsules

nodding, winged, oblong, 2–3 cm.

nodding, 3-winged, 1–2 cm.

Seeds

deep purple, dark brown in age, irregular.

dark brown, irregular.

2n

= 20.

= 20.

Calochortus tolmiei

Calochortus umbellatus

Phenology Flowering mid spring–mid summer. Flowering early spring–early summer.
Habitat Open grassy slopes or in woods, often on poor, dry soil Openings in chaparral or woods, often on serpentine
Elevation 0–2000 m [0–6600 ft] 100–700 m [300–2300 ft]
Distribution
map from FNA
CA; OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
map from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Calochortus umbellatus grows around San Francisco Bay. It is reported also from Lake County.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Parent taxa Liliaceae > Calochortus Liliaceae > Calochortus
Sibling taxa
C. albus, C. amabilis, C. ambiguus, C. amoenus, C. apiculatus, C. argillosus, C. aureus, C. bruneaunis, C. catalinae, C. clavatus, C. coeruleus, C. concolor, C. coxii, C. dunnii, C. elegans, C. eurycarpus, C. excavatus, C. flexuosus, C. greenei, C. gunnisonii, C. howellii, C. indecorus, C. invenustus, C. kennedyi, C. leichtlinii, C. longebarbatus, C. luteus, C. lyallii, C. macrocarpus, C. minimus, C. monanthus, C. monophyllus, C. nitidus, C. nudus, C. nuttallii, C. obispoensis, C. palmeri, C. panamintensis, C. persistens, C. plummerae, C. pulchellus, C. raichei, C. simulans, C. splendens, C. striatus, C. subalpinus, C. superbus, C. tiburonensis, C. umbellatus, C. umpquaensis, C. uniflorus, C. venustus, C. vestae, C. weedii, C. westonii
C. albus, C. amabilis, C. ambiguus, C. amoenus, C. apiculatus, C. argillosus, C. aureus, C. bruneaunis, C. catalinae, C. clavatus, C. coeruleus, C. concolor, C. coxii, C. dunnii, C. elegans, C. eurycarpus, C. excavatus, C. flexuosus, C. greenei, C. gunnisonii, C. howellii, C. indecorus, C. invenustus, C. kennedyi, C. leichtlinii, C. longebarbatus, C. luteus, C. lyallii, C. macrocarpus, C. minimus, C. monanthus, C. monophyllus, C. nitidus, C. nudus, C. nuttallii, C. obispoensis, C. palmeri, C. panamintensis, C. persistens, C. plummerae, C. pulchellus, C. raichei, C. simulans, C. splendens, C. striatus, C. subalpinus, C. superbus, C. tiburonensis, C. tolmiei, C. umpquaensis, C. uniflorus, C. venustus, C. vestae, C. weedii, C. westonii
Name authority Hooker & Arnott: Bot. Beechey Voy., 398. (1840) Alph. Wood: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 20: 168. (1868)
Source FNA vol. 26, p. 124. Treatment authors: P. L. Fiedler, R. K. Zebell. FNA vol. 26, p. 127. Treatment authors: P. L. Fiedler, R. K. Zebell.
Web links