Species Detail Forb

Flower		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Calochortus nuttallii - sego lily Synonyms: Calochortus nuttallii var. aureus Other Common Names: mariposa lily Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Liliaceae
Flower


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Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: Grows from an onion-like bulb; slender stems are usually unbranched and have 2 to 4 narrow leaves, 7 to 10 inches long and 1 to 4 flowers.
Identification notes: Erect stems, hairs near petal glands not thickened at their tips; circular elongate gland surrounded by the yellowish, often forked hairs, blunt-tipped anthers, potential of bulblets in the lower leaf axils. Yellow flowered plants are var. aureus.
Height: To 20 inches

Habitat

Habitat Description: Dry mesas, open pine forests and hillsides.
Plant Communities: Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 4500 - 8000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: White to light purple Shape: Regular not in clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Jul
Description: 1 to 4 tulip-like flowers with reddish-brown or purple bands above the petal bases; borne atop stems; flowers up to 2 inches wide have 3 white to lavender (light purple) petals; dense, slender hairs near the base of petals.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Grayish-green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Other Leaf Attachment: Basal and alternate Leaves Clasp: Y
Hairs: No Spines: N
Leaf Description: Narrow, grasslike; margins rolled upward, cross-section U shaped; to 4 inches long. Basal leaves generally do not persist at the time of flowering, while stem leaves do persist.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Green turning to brown
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Fruit is a 3-angled capsule with a pointed tip, which splits open along partitions; numerous seeds inside.
Seed Notes: Flattened.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer