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

Calochortus howellii

Howell's mariposa lily

Stems

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

slender, not branching or rarely branching in axil of cauline leaf, straight, 2–4 dm.

Leaves

basal persistent, 1–4 dm;

blade lanceolate, flat;

cauline usually present.

basal persistent, 20–35 cm;

blade gradually tapering distally, adaxially pubescent.

Inflorescences

subumbellate, 1–5-flowered;

bracts 2–4, linear, attenuate.

subumbellate, 1–3-flowered;

bracts 2, subopposite, linear to narrowly lanceolate, attenuate, 1–3 cm.

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;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals shorter than petals, ovate-acuminate, glabrous;

petals yellowish white, with purplish hairs toward base, broadly obovate, cuneate, inconspicuously fringed laterally, sparingly short-hairy adaxially, apex rounded;

glands transversely oblong, slightly depressed, densely covered with short, distally branching hairs, the bases of which unite at lower margin to form inconspicuous, discontinuous membranes;

filaments shorter than anthers;

anthers oblong-lanceolate, apex acute to short-apiculate.

Capsules

nodding, narrowly 3-winged, 1–3 cm.

erect, 3-winged, ellipsoid, ca. 2 cm, base and apex acute.

Seeds

dark brown, irregular.

light-colored, irregular.

2n

= 20, 40.

= 20.

Calochortus uniflorus

Calochortus howellii

Phenology Flowering late spring–mid summer. Flowering late spring–mid summer.
Habitat Moist meadows Dry, rocky, serpentine soils
Elevation 0–200 m (0–700 ft) 300–500 m (1000–1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Calochortus howellii is known only from the Illinois River valley, Josephine County.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 127. FNA vol. 26, p. 129.
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. coeruleus, C. concolor, C. coxii, C. dunnii, C. elegans, C. eurycarpus, C. excavatus, C. flexuosus, C. greenei, C. gunnisonii, 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
Name authority Hooker & Arnott: Bot. Beechey Voy., 398, plate 94. (1840) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 23: 266. (1888)
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