# Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily (*Calochortus leichtlinii*) Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily is a beautiful flower with bright yellow petals that look like little cups. It blooms in spring and can be found in meadows and grasslands, adding color to the landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calochortus_leichtlinii.jpg&width=800) Photo: NoahElhardt, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calochortus_leichtlinii.jpg) ## Appearance The Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily has striking cup-shaped flowers, typically brilliant white or pale yellow, with a distinctive purplish-brown crescent mark and fine hairs at the base of each of its three large petals. Its slender stem supports a single flower or a small cluster, rising above grass-like leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Liliaceae - **Genus:** Calochortus ## Interesting facts - Each petal has a fuzzy patch near its base, which helps protect the flower's reproductive parts! - Mariposa means 'butterfly' in Spanish, perfectly describing these delicate, colorful blooms. - Native Americans once ate its sweet, potato-like bulbs, dug up from the ground! - This lily can grow in very dry, rocky soil where many other beautiful flowers struggle to survive! ## Special abilities - **Bulb Power:** Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily has an underground bulb that stores water and food, helping it survive dry summers and grow back year after year. - **Nectar Guides:** The flower's dark markings and hairs act like a landing strip, guiding busy bees straight to its sweet nectar for pollination. - **Drought Dormancy:** It can go dormant during hot, dry periods, allowing it to conserve energy and reappear only when conditions are right. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding in reproduction. - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Buzz-pollinates the flower, helping spread pollen. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Occasionally browses on the leaves and flowers. ## Traits - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [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 but don't touch flowers in nature to keep them safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Leichtlin'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 Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily? 3-5 cm ### When does Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily edible? Yes ### Is Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily toxic? None ### What is Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Great Sierra Mine Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sierra-mine-historic-site) — California, US · Historic Site - [Nobles Emigrant Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nobles-emigrant-trail) — California, US · Trail - [Shorty Lovelace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shorty-lovelace-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Shady Rest Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shady-rest-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/leichtlins-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: [Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leichtlins-mariposa-lily)