Calochortus luteus, the yellow mariposa lily, is a mariposa lily endemic to California.Douglas, David ex Lindley, John 1833. Edwards's Botanical Register 19: plate 1567 plus two subsequent text pages full-page color illustration, description in Latin, commentary in EnglishKew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
Description The primarily bright deep yellow flower is 3–5 cm across and perianth bulb-shaped, lined red-brown inside, often also with central red-brown blotch and sparse hair inside.Calflora taxon report, University of California: Calochortus luteus (yellow mariposa lily, yellow mariposa)Jepson Profile of Calochortus luteusFlora of North America: Calochortus luteus It is a perennial herb.
Distribution This species is found on coastal prairie, grasslands and some open forest floors.C. Michael Hogan. 2009 Its range is along the coastal ranges from region to the northern Santa Barbara County Channel Islands and mainland, Northwestern California, the Sacramento Valley, and the Sierra Nevada foothills from there to the Tehachapi Mountains.
Cultivation Calochortus luteus is used in landscape design, with "non-habitat sourced" bulbs available from native plant nurseries and societies, to grow as an ornamental plant in gardens and for restoration projects.C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Yellow Mariposa Lily: Calochortus luteus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
References
External links
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for Calochortus luteus CalPhotos, University of California, Photo gallery — Calochortus luteus