# Sagebrush Mariposa Lily (*calochortus macrocarpus*) The Sagebrush Mariposa Lily (Calochortus macrocarpus) is a stunning perennial wildflower native to the arid interior of western North America. Renowned for its showy, tulip-like blooms, this resilient plant thrives in harsh, dry environments like sagebrush steppes and ponderosa pine forests. It plays a vital role in its ecosystem, providing nectar for various native pollinators and serving as a historical food source for Indigenous peoples who harvested its nutritious bulbs. This species is particularly celebrated for its striking visual appearance, which contrasts beautifully against the muted grays and greens of the sagebrush country. As a geophyte, it survives hot, dry summers and freezing winters by storing energy in an underground bulb. This adaptation allows it to re-emerge each spring, bringing a vibrant splash of lavender and purple to the rugged landscapes. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Found in dry, open sagebrush grasslands and ponderosa pine forests on well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils. ![Sagebrush Mariposa Lily](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/228282378/medium.jpg) Photo: Braden J. Judson, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/228282378) ## Appearance The lily features large, cup-shaped flowers that are typically three-lobed and range from pale lavender to deep purple. Each petal is marked with a distinctive green stripe running down the center of its outer surface, and the inner base of the petal is adorned with a band of bright yellow, beard-like hairs. The plant grows on an erect, unbranched stem reaching 20 to 60 centimeters in height, carrying narrow, grass-like leaves that often wither by the time the flower blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Liliaceae - **Genus:** Calochortus ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest traditionally harvested the sweet-tasting bulbs as a valuable source of carbohydrates. - The name 'Mariposa' means butterfly in Spanish, referring to the ornate patterns and delicate, winged appearance of the petals. - The seeds are wind-dispersed and require a cold winter period before they can successfully germinate in the spring. ## Special abilities - **Drought Dormancy:** The plant can survive intense summer heat and lack of water by dying back completely to its underground bulb, remaining dormant until the next spring. - **Contractile Roots:** Specialized roots pull the bulb deeper into the soil to protect it from freezing winter temperatures and wild fluctuations in surface moisture. - **Mycorrhizal Association:** It partners with underground mycorrhizal fungi to enhance its uptake of water and essential nutrients in poor, rocky soils. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-60 cm - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years ## Diet & Feeding As a photosynthetic plant, the Sagebrush Mariposa Lily manufactures its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential soil minerals. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Carbon dioxide, Water, Soil minerals ## Ecological connections - **Mutualism:** [Hunt's Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hunts-bumble-bee) (*Bombus huntii*) — Pollination of flowers in exchange for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pocket Gopher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pocket-gopher) (*Thomomys talpoides*) — Forages on the nutrient-rich underground bulbs. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Feeds on the developing seeds and flower heads. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sagebrush 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 long is Sagebrush Mariposa Lily? 20-60 cm ### How long does Sagebrush Mariposa Lily live? 5-15 years ### What does Sagebrush Mariposa Lily eat? As a photosynthetic plant, the Sagebrush Mariposa Lily manufactures its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential soil minerals. ### Where is Sagebrush Mariposa Lily usually found? Found in dry, open sagebrush grasslands and ponderosa pine forests on well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils. ## Where to spot - [Painted Hills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/painted-hills) — Oregon, US · Natural Landmark - [Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumheller-channels-national-natural-landmark) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Grand Coulee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-coulee) — Washington, US · Natural Landmark - [James Cant Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/james-cant-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Sagebrush Mariposa Lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sagebrush-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: [Sagebrush Mariposa Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sagebrush-mariposa-lily)