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Calochortus persistens

Siskiyou mariposa-lily

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

Stems

not branching, ca. 1 dm.

not branching, 0.3–2 dm.

Leaves

basal persistent, ca. 2 dm;

blade lanceolate, tapering at base, flat.

basal persistent, 1–2 dm;

blade linear, flat.

Inflorescences

subumbellate, 2-flowered.

1–10-flowered.

Flowers

erect;

perianth open, campanulate;

sepals smaller than petals;

petals pink to light purplish, obovate, 35–40 mm, adaxial surface hairy only distal to gland, margins yellow-ciliate;

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

anthers lanceolate, apex apiculate.

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, winged, ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm, apex acute.

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

Seeds

irregular.

irregular.

2n

= 20.

= 20.

Calochortus persistens

Calochortus coeruleus

Phenology Flowering late spring–mid summer. Flowering late spring–mid summer.
Habitat Open areas in rocky soils Open gravelly places in woods
Elevation 1000–1500 m (3300–4900 ft) 600–2500 m (2000–8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Calochortus persistens is restricted to the Klamath and Cascade ranges in Siskiyou County.

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

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. 131. 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. 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
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 Ownbey: Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 27: 448, plate 38, figs. 1, 2. (1940) (Kellogg) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 263. (1879)
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