Calochortus excavatus

Calochortus excavatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Calochortus
Species: C. excavatus
Binomial name
Calochortus excavatus
Greene
Synonyms[1]

Calochortus campestris Davidson

Calochortus excavatus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Inyo County star-tulip.[2][3]

Distribution

The flowering plant is endemic to eastern California, where it is known from several reduced and threatened populations in Mono and Inyo Counties.[4] It occupies grassy habitats in alkaline Shadscale scrub plant communities, alongside Atriplex and other playa halophyte flora, primarily in Owens Valley.[3]

The species is listed as endangered, threatened by the loss of local groundwater.[5]

Description

Calochortus excavatus is a perennial bulb, growing a slender unbranched stem to about 30 centimetres (12 in) in maximum height.[2]

The inflorescence bears 1 to 6 erect bell-shaped flowers in a close cluster. Each flower has three sepals which lack spotting, and three white petals. The petals may have green striping on their outer surfaces and generally have a red-purple blotch at the base. The anthers are reddish to purple.[2][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. 1 2 3 Flora of North America
  3. 1 2 Calflora taxon report, Calochortus excavatus E. Greene, Inyo County star tulip
  4. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  5. ↑ California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, Calochortus excavatus
  6. ↑ Jepson Manual Treatment for Calochortus excavatus
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