Petals white to pale lilac with a dark reddish-purple blotch at the base of each wedge-shaped petal and greenish sepal.  The pedicel is subtended by bracts up to 4 in. long.  Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-09-09. © Peter J. Bryant

Catalina Mariposa Lily

Calochortus catalinae

Occasional on ridges and slopes with heavy soils, in valley grassland and openings in chaparral and coastal sage brush, to 2000 ft. elevation in Chino and San Joaquin Hills, Santa Ana Canyon, mountain foothills and Santa Ana Mountains.  A major fire follower, first reported in the county in 1899 (Roberts, p. 41) but first described from a specimen collected from Catalina Island. Bulblets form in the axils of lower leaves. Fruit up to 2 in. long, erect, not angled, with obtuse tip (JM2). Flowering: March -  May.

California Native Plant Society List 4.2, a watch list for plants that have restricted distribution within California, moderately threatened (by development). 

Back to Liliaceae of Orange County, California
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Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-09-09. © Peter J. Bryant

Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-09-09. © Peter J. Bryant

Filaments are purple, anthers 1/4 in. pinkish, lilac or red. Nectary near the petal base is not depressed and is densely branched-hairy. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-09-09. © Peter J. Bryant

One to four terminal cup-shaped flowers 2-3 in. across on 8 to 24 in. pedicels; main stem branched above. Leaves are grass-like, 4 to 10 in. long, with basal leaves withering by bloom time, upper leaves reduced.  Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-09-09. © Peter J. Bryant

With a long-horned Bee (those are its antennae at the top!). Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-18-09. © Peter J. Bryant