Alkali Mariposa Lily (Calochortus striatus)

(Fig. 01)

Picture Notes: Shot on 05/10/2012, the location for the pictures shown here (Fig. 01 & 02) was along the hillside just above the parking lot at Red Spring in the Calico Basin of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA).

(Fig. 02) Description: The Alkali Mariposa Lily (Calochortus striatus) is a perennial forb with grass-like leaves that grows from an underground bulb. It can grow in height from 4-20 inches. An erect stem that carry 1 to 8 upright bell-shaped, flowers. Sepals are 0.4-0.8 inches with 0.8-1.2 inch petals that are a lavender to white, sometimes rich pink, with thin purple veins. The middle of the petal has long, white, wiry hairs across its width. The basal leaf is approximately 3/4 of an inch long and less than a 1/2 inch wide. Its range is the western Mojave Desert in wetland-riparian and alkaline meadows. Though there is known to be a unique population in Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area, it is on the rare, threatened, or endangered list in several states.