Calochortus kennedyi

Calochortus kennedyi is a North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name desert mariposa lily.^[2][3]

Calochortus kennedyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Liliaceae
Genus:	Calochortus
Species:	C. kennedyi
Binomial name
Calochortus kennedyi Porter, 1877
Synonyms[1]
Calochortus speciosus M.E.Jones

It is native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States (Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah and western Texas), and northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua). In California it is found in the Mojave Desert and rain shadowed eastern slopes of the Transverse Ranges.^[2][4]

Species is named for plant collector William L. Kennedy.^[5]

Description

Calochortus kennedyi is a perennial herb which produces a slender, unbranching, sometimes twisting stem up to 50 centimeters tall, but generally shorter. There is a basal leaf 10 to 20 centimeters long which is waxy in texture and withers at flowering.^[4]

The inflorescence consists of 1 to 6 erect bell-shaped flowers in a loose cluster. Each flower has three sepals and three petals which are usually spotted at the bases. The petals may be 5 centimeters long and are yellow, orange, or red in color.^[4]

The fruit is an angled, striped capsule up to 6 centimeters in length.^[4]

Varieties

• Calochortus kennedyi var. kennedyi - most of species range
• Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii — Arizona, Sonora, Mojave Desert in California