Mineral Wildflower Festival

Technical Name

• Calochortus nudus

Informal Names

• Naked mariposa lily

• Shand’s Lily

• Naked star-tulip

• Sierra mariposa lily

Key Characteristics

• The "Naked" Petals: Unlike many other mariposa lilies and cat's ears (Calochortus species) that are famously lined with dense, fuzzy hairs, the petals of this species are completely smooth and hairless—hence the botanical name nudus.

• The Delicate Blossoms: Features small, upright, cup-to-bell-shaped flowers consisting of 3 large, fan-shaped petals. They are typically pure white to pale lavender, elegantly detailed with a thin, purple crescent-shaped band or blotch circling the central throat.

• Foliage: It produces a single, long, strap-like, glossy green leaf that arises directly from the base of the plant, often flat against the ground or threading through surrounding grasses.

• Growth Habit: A diminutive and slender perennial monocot arising from an underground bulb, sending up a smooth, unbranched stem that stands only 4 to 10 inches high.

Notable Significance

• Wetlands Specialist: While many mariposa lilies are famous for choosing dry, baking clay hillsides, this species is a highly specialized moisture-lover. Finding it is a strong indicator of an active seasonal wetland or high-table water seep.

• Cultural History: The small bulbs of the genus Calochortus were historically harvested by many California Native American tribes, who pit-roasted, boiled, or ate them raw as a sweet, starchy seasonal food source.

• The Calochortus Legacy: The genus name Calochortus is derived from Greek, translating beautifully to "beautiful grass," a nod to the plant's fine, grass-like leaves that completely blend into meadows until the stunning blossoms appear.

Locations Found

• Habitat: Thrives exclusively in vernally wet mountain meadows, boggy flats, marsh edges, and along the grassy margins of slow-moving mountain streams. It is frequently found growing in direct company with moisture-loving horsetails (Equisetum) and sedges.

• Elevation Range: Native to the high mountains of Northern California and Southern Oregon, it is highly common in the montane zones of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades at elevations between 4,000 and 7,500 feet. It finds a perfect home in the damp, snowmelt-fed meadows carpeting the valleys around Mineral.