The colors below indicate the kind of documentation available for this species
in the California counties where it occurs.
Mariposa Lily Calochortus leichtlinii (Liliaceae)
The white flowers of this common Mariposa Lily do not have to compete for attention among the ephemeral annual spring flora. In late summer its neighbors are more likely to be golden brown grasses instead of brightly colored wildflowers. Like many Mariposa Lilies, the floral configuration of this species resembles an inverted bell. The petals are typically white but vary to smoky-blue with a flush of pink. Each petal has a black spot positioned above the nectary which may well serve as a nectar guide for potential pollinators.
DISTRIBUTION: Common in open gravelly sites in chaparral and montane coniferous forests; 1300-4000 m.
