Desert mariposa lily (Calochortus kennedyi)
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell
Mariposa lilies in the genus Calochortus are among my favorite western wildflowers. They occur in a variety of colors and shapes, and this species, C. kennedyi, the desert mariposa lily, is one of the most spectacular. These bright red-orange flowers were growing near Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, California, during the reasonably wet spring of 2008. In other areas, this plant produces yellow flowers. A close relative, Calochortus palmeri, was growing nearby.
More pictures of C. kennedyi are on this page.
