SafePlants

Tiburon Mariposa Lily (Calochortus tiburonensis)

The Tiburon Mariposa Lily, scientifically known as Calochortus tiburonensis, is a rare and beautiful wildflower found in a very specific location.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calochortus tiburonensis
• Common Name: Tiburon Mariposa Lily
• Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)
• Genus: Calochortus

Distribution and Habitat

• The Tiburon Mariposa Lily is endemic to Marin County, California.
• Specifically, it is known only from Ring Mountain on the Tiburon Peninsula.
• It thrives in serpentine barrens, a specialized habitat with unique soil conditions.

Morphological Characteristics

• It possesses a single, persistent, basal, linear-oblong leaf measuring 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) in length.
• The flower is cryptically colored, providing camouflage among the serpentine rocks and grasses.
• Blooms typically occur from late May through mid-June.

Ecological Role and Conservation Status

• The Tiburon Mariposa Lily is a California threatened plant species, protected by state law.
• It is also on the U.S. Endangered Species List.
• Its presence is noted in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 1B.1 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere).

Quirky Facts

• The Tiburon Mariposa Lily was discovered in 1971 by a local amateur botanist.
• The plant was declared a previously unknown species of mariposa lily after much debate among botanists.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Calochortus tiburonensis.
• Information is also available from the California Academy of Sciences.