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Gunnison's mariposa lily

Scientific Name: Calochortus gunnisonii var. gunnisonii

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus gunnisonii)

Calochortus gunnisonii, commonly known as Gunnison's Mariposa Lily or Sego Lily, is a beautiful flowering plant belonging to the lily family.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant grows from a bulb.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Calochortus gunnisonii S. Watson
  • Common Names: Gunnison's Mariposa Lily, Sego Lily
  • Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)
  • Genus: Calochortus
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species, Variety (Calochortus gunnisonii var. gunnisonii)
  • Synonyms: Mariposa Lily

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America, specifically the western United States.
  • Found in the Rocky Mountains.
  • Observed in locations such as Almont, CO, and near Laramie.
  • Inhabits grassy upland areas.
  • Specifically found in: ID, MT, WY, SD, NE, CO, UT, AZ, NM

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • It is a perennial herb.
  • Grows from a bulb.
  • The stem is erect and typically 10-30 cm tall.
  • Stems are simple.
  • Slender, mostly separate stems bearing several leaflets and flowers.
  • Gunnison's Mariposa Lily is an erect plant.

Ecological Role

  • The genus Calochortus includes herbaceous, perennial and bulbous species.

Flowering and Hardiness

  • Flowering period: June to July.
  • Hardy to zone (UK) 3.
  • Flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).

Traditional and Edible Uses

  • Infusion of the plant has been used as an antirheumatic.
  • The bulb is edible, raw or cooked, and reportedly tastes like a raw new potato when raw.

Related Species

  • Calochortus flexuosus (Winding Mariposa Lily): unlike Gunnison's Mariposa Lily, it has trailing stems.
  • Calochortus elegans: elegant mariposa lily.

Further Resources

  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society).
  • USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern...
  • Encyclopedia of Life.