Yellow Mariposa Lily

Coastal plants of Calochortus luteus are mostly triploid, while those of the interior are mostly diploid. Occasionally this species hybridizes with C. superbus.

Stems slender, 2–5 dm. Leaves: basal withering, 1–2 dm; blade linear. Inflorescences subumbellate, 1–4-flowered; bracts 1–8 cm. Flowers erect; perianth open, campanulate; sepals lanceolate-oblong, attenuate, 2–3 cm; petals deep yellow, usually streaked red-brown proximally, often with median red-brown blotch, cuneate to obovate, 2–4 cm, with a few slender hairs near gland; glands ± lunate to oblong, not depressed, covered with short, matted hairs; filaments 7–9 mm; anthers linear-oblong, 4–6 mm, apex obtuse or acute. Capsules erect, lanceoloid-linear, angled, 3–6 cm. Seeds light beige, flat. 2n = 14, 28.

Calif.

Flowering late spring--mid summer.

Heavy soils in grasslands, open woodlands, mixed evergreen forests; 0--700m.

Mariposa lutea (Douglas ex Lindley) Hoover