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large-flower star-tulip, Monterey mariposa lily, pink star-tulip

beavertail-grass, blue cat's ear, blue star tulip

Stems

usually not branching, shorter than 5(–10) cm, bearing bulblets near base.

not branching, 0.3–2 dm.

Leaves

basal persistent, 1–4 dm;

blade lanceolate, flat;

cauline usually present.

basal persistent, 1–2 dm;

blade linear, flat.

Inflorescences

subumbellate, 1–5-flowered;

bracts 2–4, linear, attenuate.

1–10-flowered.

Flowers

erect;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals elliptic-lanceolate, 12–16 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate;

petals ± white to pink, often with purple blotch distal to gland, broadly obovate, cuneate, 15–28 mm, adaxial surface glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins irregularly dentate distally;

glands covered with ciliate membranes, bordered distally by short hairs;

filaments longer than anthers;

anthers oblong, apex obtuse or acute.

erect to spreading;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate;

petals light blue, obovate, 8–12 mm, adaxial surface hairy only distal to gland, margins ciliate to apex, apex acuminate;

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

anthers oblong, apex acute to acuminate.

Capsules

nodding, narrowly 3-winged, 1–3 cm.

nodding, not winged, 1–2 cm, apex acute.

Seeds

dark brown, irregular.

irregular.

2n

= 20, 40.

= 20.

Calochortus uniflorus

Calochortus coeruleus

Phenology Flowering late spring–mid summer. Flowering late spring–mid summer.
Habitat Moist meadows Open gravelly places in woods
Elevation 0–200 m (0–700 ft) 600–2500 m (2000–8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

Calochortus coeruleus appears to intergrade with C. tolmiei to some extent, especially in petal ciliation (K. L. Chambers, pers. comm.), and it might better be treated as a variety of the latter, more widespread species.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 127. FNA vol. 26, p. 124.
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. tolmiei, C. umbellatus, C. umpquaensis, 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. 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. umbellatus, C. umpquaensis, C. uniflorus, C. venustus, C. vestae, C. weedii, C. westonii
Synonyms Cyclobothra coerulea, C. coeruleus var. fimbriatus, C. maweanus
Name authority Hooker & Arnott: Bot. Beechey Voy., 398, plate 94. (1840) (Kellogg) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 263. (1879)
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