About Calochortus elegans Pursh
Calochortus elegans Pursh is a species of flowering plant in the lily family, with common names including elegant Mariposa lily, cat's ear, elegant cat's ears, and star tulip. It is native to the western United States, ranging from northern California to Montana. This perennial herb grows a slender, generally unbranched stem that reaches up to 15 centimeters tall. Its single basal leaf is 10 to 20 centimeters long and does not wither when the plant flowers. The inflorescence holds 1 to 7 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three sepals and three petals, with very hairy inner surfaces and edges. Each petal is greenish white, marked with a purple crescent above a hairless patch at its base. The fruit is a winged capsule around 2 centimeters long. The bulb of this plant is considered a fine choice wild root vegetable when cooked, and can be eaten raw to prevent starvation. Calochortus elegans grows in open woodland and grassy hillsides. The recorded varieties of this species are: Calochortus elegans var. amoenus (Greene) auct., Calochortus elegans var. amoenus hort., Calochortus elegans var. elegans Pursh found in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Calochortus elegans var. lobbii Baker, Calochortus elegans var. major Hook., Calochortus elegans var. minor Hook., Calochortus elegans var. nanus Alph.Wood found in Oregon, northern California, Calochortus elegans var. oreophilus Ownbey, Calochortus elegans var. selwayensis (H.St.John) Ownbey found in Idaho, Montana, and Calochortus elegans var. subclavatus Baker.
