Calochortus luteus
Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 19: plate 1567. 1833.
Stems slender, 2–5 dm. Leaves: basal withering, 1–2 dm; blade linear. Inflorescences subumbellate, 1–4-flowered; bracts 1–8 cm. Flowers erect; perianth open, campanulate; sepals lanceolate-oblong, attenuate, 2–3 cm; petals deep yellow, usually streaked red-brown proximally, often with median red-brown blotch, cuneate to obovate, 2–4 cm, with a few slender hairs near gland; glands ± lunate to oblong, not depressed, covered with short, matted hairs; filaments 7–9 mm; anthers linear-oblong, 4–6 mm, apex obtuse or acute. Capsules erect, lanceoloid-linear, angled, 3–6 cm. Seeds light beige, flat. 2n = 14, 28.
Phenology: Flowering late spring–mid summer.
Habitat: Heavy soils in grasslands, open woodlands, mixed evergreen forests
Elevation: 0–700 m
Distribution
Calif.
Discussion
Coastal plants of Calochortus luteus are mostly triploid, while those of the interior are mostly diploid. Occasionally this species hybridizes with C. superbus.
Selected References
None.