Category: Calochortus

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

Description by the California Native Plant Society. Calochortus nudus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name naked mariposa lily. It is native to the mountains of northern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in wet areas such as meadows and lakeside bogs. It is a perennial herb producing an unbranching stem up to about 25 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 5 to 15 centimeters long and does not wither at flowering. The flower cluster bears one or more erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three small, pointed sepals and three wider petals all pinkish or lavender in color. The petals are mostly hairless and about 1.5 centimeters long. The fruit is a capsule about 2 centimeters long.

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

Description from the Flora of North America. Stems usually not branching, straight or flexuous, often scapelike, 0.5–3 dm. Leaves: basal 1–3 dm × 2–15 mm, usually equaling or exceeding stem length; blade flat, adaxial surface glabrous. Inflorescences subumbellate, 1–5-flowered; bracts 2–several, lanceolate to linear, unequal, 1–5 cm, apex acuminate; peduncle slender, becoming stouter, deflexed in fruit. Flowers erect or spreading; perianth open, campanulate; sepals typically with purple glandular blotch near base, oblong-lanceolate, shorter than petals, adaxial surface minutely hairy, apex acute to acuminate; petals yellowish white, sometimes lavender-tinged, frequently with narrow purple crescent distal to gland, broadly obovate, cuneate, moderately bearded nearly to apex, adaxial surface densely hairy, margins fringed, apex obtuse or acute; glands transversely oblong, arched upward, ± deeply depressed, bordered proximally by narrow, ascending, deeply fringed membrane, distally by narrow, crenate membranes, gland surface with rather long, slender hairs toward distal portion; anthers lanceolate, apex long-apiculate. Capsules nodding, 3-winged, ellipsoid, apex usually acute. Seeds pale yellow. 2n = 20. Flowering summer. Open forest in loose volcanic soils; 1000–2200 m; Oregon, Washington.

The pictures above of Calochortus subalpinus were taken on Mount Adams in Washington in July 2017. The pictures below of Calochortus subalpinus were taken in July 2009 in central Oregon.

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

Description. Siskiyou mariposa lily is an herbaceous perennial with a single, basal leaf arising from a bulb.  The basal leaf can be up to 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) in length and the flowering stem approximately 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) high.  One to three large showy, pink to lavender, erect, bell-shaped flowers have a yellow fringe above the nectary at the base of the petals.

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

Description from the Oregon Department of Agricuture. Howell’s mariposa lily is a bulbous perennial, 2-4 dm tall, that bears a single large basal leaf (averaging 30 cm in length). These deep green, somewhat leathery basal leaves are distinctly parallel-veined with rows of hairs on the undersides that correspond to the veins. The broadly cup-shaped, showy flowers have three white to cream-colored petals 2.7-3 cm long, each with a lime green petal spot that is covered with dark purple hairs. The upper portions of the petals have few or no hairs. Each stem usually produces one or two (sometimes three) flowers, which develop into 2-cm-long capsules that remain erect until seeds are released. Plants begin to bloom in mid June and can continue into August under ideal conditions. In most populations, many more vegetative than reproductive plants occur, with only a relatively few mature individuals flowering each year. The number of plants flowering varies greatly among years and is dependent on seasonal conditions.

 

 

 

 

Ethnobotany. A food and a medicine for many Amerindian Peoples. Calochortus gunnisonii was a food for the following First Peoples: Keres, Cheyenne, Navajo Ramah. Among the Navajo Ramah, the juice of the leaves was applied to pimples; a decoction of the whole plant was taken to ease delivery of placenta; and the plant was also used a ceremonial medicine. Among the Keres, an infusion of the was plant taken for swellings. Among the Cheyennes, the dried and chopped bulbs were used as an ingredient for a medicinal mixture. These informations were mentioned in: “The Ethnobotany of the Ramah Navaho”; “The Cheyenne Indians – Their History and Ways of Life Vol 2”; “The Ethnobotany of the Northern Cheyenne Indians of Montana”.

Description from the Flora of America. Calochortus gunnisonii. Plants usually bulbose; bulb coat, when present, membranous. Stems not branching, straight, 2.4–5.5 dm. Leaves: basal withering, 18–35 cm; blade linear. Inflorescences subumbellate, 1–3-flowered. Flowers erect; perianth open, campanulate; sepals marked similar to petals, lanceolate, usually much shorter, glabrous, apex acute; petals white to purple, greenish adaxially, clawed, often with narrow, transverse purple band distal to gland and purple blotch on claw, obovate, cuneate, usually obtuse and rounded distally; glands transversely oblong, not depressed, densely bearded with distally branching hairs, outermost of which somewhat connate at base to form discontinuous, deeply fringed membranes; filaments shorter than anthers; anthers lanceolate, apex acute to apiculate. Capsules erect, linear-oblong, 3-angled, 3–6 cm, apex acute. Seeds flat, inflated. 2n = 18.usually bulbose

Reference Books. The gem of a book for all Calochortus aficionados is : “Calochortus Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”. By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2007. Timber Press. 

Ethnobotany. A food and a medicine for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

Description by the California Native Plant Society. Calochortus leichtlinii is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Leichtlin’s mariposa, smokey mariposa, and mariposa lily. The plant is native to the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau of California and adjacent parts of the Great Basin in southeastern Oregon and western Nevada. It grows in coniferous forest and chaparral habitats, including the lowest grassy hills-such as along the Sierra Nevada boundary with the Central Valley and agriculture. Calochortus leichtlinii is a perennial herb producing an erect, unbranching stem up to 60 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 10 to 15 centimeters long and withers by flowering. The inflorescence is a loose cluster of 1 to 5 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three petals 1 to 4 centimeters long which are white, pinkish, or dull blue in color and spotted with yellow and dark red or black and hairy at the bases. These color patterns vary widely among different regional and local populations. The fruit is a narrow capsule up to 6 centimeters long.

Reference Books. The gem of a book for all Calochortus aficionados is : “Calochortus Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”. By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2007. Timber Press. 

Ethnobotany. A food and a medicine for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted. 

By the Thompson People as mentioned in “The Ethnobotany of the Thompson Indians of British Columbia” (Steedman, E.V., 1928), in “Thompson Ethnobotany: Knowledge and Usage of Plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, Victoria” (Turner, Nancy J., Laurence C. Thompson and M. Terry Thompson et al., 1990) and in “Ethno-Botany of the Indians in the Interior of British Columbia” (Perry, F., 1952). They were eating the bulbs raw or cooked as well as the sweet flower buds. The Thompson People were also using mashed bulbs placed in cheesecloth as an eye-medicine.

By the Shuswap People as mentioned in “Shuswap Indian Ethnobotany” (Palmer, Gary, 1975) who were feeding their cattle and sheep.

By the Paiute People as mentioned in “Ethnography of the Surprise Valley Paiute” (Kelly, Isabel T., 1932. University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology).

By the Okanagon People as  mentioned in “Ethno-Botany of the Indians in the Interior of British Columbia” (Perry, F., 1952) and in “The Salishan Tribes of the Western Plateaus” (Teit, James A., 1928).

By the Okanagon-Colville People as  mentioned in “Ethnobotany of the Okanagan-Colville Indians of British Columbia and Washington, Victoria” (Turner, Nancy J., R. Bouchard and Dorothy I.D. Kennedy, 1980). They were the bulbs raw or pit cooked with other rootsand using a poultice of mashed bulbs applied to the skin for poison ivy.

By the Klamath People as mentioned in “Notes On The Plants Used By The Klamath Indians Of Oregon” (Coville, Frederick V., 1897).

Description by the California Native Plant Society. Calochortus macrocarpa is a species also known as “Sagebrush Mariposa Lily”. It occurs in northwestern United States and a small part of southern British Columbia. The leaves are blue-green and grass-like. The flowers are large, bloom in June, are three-petaled, and are pink and purple. The bulbs are tapering, like a carrot.

Reference Books. The gem of a book for all Calochortus aficionados is : “Calochortus Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”. By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2007. Timber Press. 

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples of California: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

By the Mendocino People as mentioned in “Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California”, (Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408. Chestnut, V. K., 1902).

By the Pomo and Kashaya Peoples as mentioned in “Kashaya Pomo Plants”, (Goodrich, Jennie and Claudia Lawson. Los Angeles. American Indian Studies Center, University of California, Los Angeles. 1980).

By the Yuki People as mentioned in “Some Plants Used by the Yuki Indians of Round Valley in Northern California” (Curtin, L. S. M., The Masterkey 31:85-94. 1957).

Description. Calochortus elegans var. nanus is a perennial herb producing a slender, generally unbranched stem up to 5 centimeters in height. The basal leaf is around 10 long and does not wither at flowering. The inflorescence bears a few tiny flowers. According to the botanist Frank Callahan – who wrote the chapter on Calochortus in the newly published volume 1 of the Flora of Oregon – the nectary membrane is fringed for Calochortus elegans var. elegans and has sharp or rounded teeth for Calochortus elegans var. nanus. As well, the sepals are not tinged purple at their base for Calochortus elegans var. elegans contrarily to Calochortus elegans var. nanus.

Reference Books. The gem of a book for all Calochortus afficionados is : “Calochortus Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”. By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2007. Timber Press. 

Ethnobotany. A food for many Amerindian Peoples: the bulbs were eaten raw or roasted.

By the Mendocino People as mentioned in “Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California”, (Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408. Chestnut, V. K., 1902).

By the Pomo and Kashaya Peoples as mentioned in “Kashaya Pomo Plants”, (Goodrich, Jennie and Claudia Lawson. Los Angeles. American Indian Studies Center, University of California, Los Angeles. 1980).

By the Yuki People as mentioned in “Some Plants Used by the Yuki Indians of Round Valley in Northern California” (Curtin, L. S. M., The Masterkey 31:85-94. 1957).

Description by the California Native Plant Society. Calochortus tolmiei is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Tolmie star-tulip and pussy ears. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it is a common member of the flora in several types of habitat. It is a perennial herb producing a slender stem, branched or unbranched, to 40 centimeters in maximum height. There is a basal leaf up to 40 centimeters long which does not wither at flowering, and generally a smaller leaf farther up the stem. The flower cluster is a solitary bloom or a cluster of bell-shaped flowers. Each has white to pale pink or purple petals, each up to 2.5 centimeters long, and three narrower sepals beneath. The petals are usually very hairy on their inner surfaces, and may be fringed with long hairs as well. The fruit is a winged capsule 2 or 3 centimeters long containing several dark brown seeds.

Reference Books. The gem of a book for all Calochortus aficionados is : “Calochortus Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives”. By Mary E. Gerritsen and Ron Parsons. 2007. Timber Press.