# Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (*Calochortus gunnisonii*) Gunnison's Mariposa Lily is a beautiful flower that blooms in bright yellow and white colors. It grows in the mountains and is a special sight during springtime when it opens up to the sun! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Gunnison's Mariposa Lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calochortus_gunnisonii_gunnisonii1.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calochortus_gunnisonii_gunnisonii1.jpg) ## Appearance The Gunnison's Mariposa Lily has large, showy, bell-shaped flowers, often white, lavender, or purple with a distinctive green-striped base and yellow hairs on the inner petals. Its upright stem supports cup-like blooms that stand out against its narrow, grass-like leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Liliaceae - **Genus:** Calochortus ## Interesting facts - Each beautiful flower only blooms for a few short weeks each summer! - Its nutritious bulbs were a vital food source for Native American tribes! - Look closely for a 'hairy' yellow gland near its petal bases – it's fascinating! - The 'mariposa' in its name means 'butterfly' in Spanish, for its delicate wings! ## Special abilities - **Sun-Tracker Bloom:** Gunnison's Mariposa Lily can twist its stems to face the sun, helping its flowers soak up maximum light for photosynthesis. - **Rocky Resilience:** Gunnison's Mariposa Lily has a strong bulb that helps it survive harsh winters and grow in rocky, dry soils. - **Nectar Beacon:** Gunnison's Mariposa Lily has brightly colored petals and guiding hairs that direct pollinators to its sweet nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Their leaves and flowers are browsed by deer. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pocket Gopher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pocket-gopher) (*Thomomys talpoides*) — Known to consume the underground bulbs. - **Symbiotic with:** Shining Guest Ant (*Formica pallidefulva*) — Ants disperse its seeds, aiding in plant spread. ## Traits - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look at flowers but don't pick them. They are homes for butterflies and bees! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gunnison's Mariposa Lily? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily? 15-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Gunnison's Mariposa Lily? 3-5 cm ### When does Gunnison's Mariposa Lily bloom? Summer ### Is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily edible? No ### Is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily toxic? None ### What is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Gunnison's Mariposa Lily pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Betty Ford Alpine Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/betty-ford-alpine-gardens) — Colorado, US · Botanical Garden - [Jewel Cave National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jewel-cave-national-monument) — South Dakota, US · National Park [View all places to see Gunnison's Mariposa Lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gunnisons-mariposa-lily) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Gunnison's Mariposa Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gunnisons-mariposa-lily)