Panamint mariposa lily

Calochortus panamintensis

Color: White
Common name: Panamint mariposa lily
Latin name: Calochortus panamintensis
Family: LILIACEAE

Height: 12-23 inches tall.

Description: Flower bell-shaped; sepals 10-40 mm, dark-spotted near base; petals 20-40 mm, narrowly obovate, white tinged lilac, green-striped outside. Stem usually unbranched that can have up to 10 upright flowers.

Leaf: Narrow leaf at or near the base approximately 10-20 cm long by 6-8 mm wide, usually withering by the time the flower is fully open.

Range: n Desert Mountains (Panamint Mtns)
Habitat: Dry pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 2500-3200 m.
Flowering time: Jun-Jul

Notes: Photographed July 1, 2005, upper Wildrose Canyon, Death Valley National Park, Calif. A monocot, is a perennial herb (bulb) that is native to California and is endemic (limited) to California alone. It is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 4.2 (limited distribution). This species is very similar to C. invenustus with little to distinguish it and is considered by some botanists to be the same species but a regional variety.

Photos tips Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.

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