Calochortus elegans is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name elegant Mariposa lily, cat's ear, elegant cat's ears or star tulip. It is native to the western United States from northern California to Montana.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
It is a perennial herb producing a slender, generally unbranched stem up to 15 centimeters in height. The basal leaf is 10 to 20 centimeters long and does not wither at flowering. The inflorescence bears 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 in color with a purple crescent above a hairless patch at the base. The fruit is a winged capsule about 2 centimeters long.Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 125 Cat’s ear, Calochortus elegans Pursh
The bulb is a choice wild root vegetable when eaten cooked, and can be eaten raw to avoid starvation. It grows in open woodland and grassy hillsides.
Varieties Calochortus elegans var. amoenus (Greene) auct. Calochortus elegans var. amoenus hort. Calochortus elegans var. elegans Pursh - Idaho, Oregon, Washington Calochortus elegans var. lobbii Baker Calochortus elegans var. major Hook. Calochortus elegans var. minor Hook. Calochortus elegans var. nanus Alph.Wood - Oregon, northern California Calochortus elegans var. oreophilus Ownbey Calochortus elegans var. selwayensis (H.St.John) Ownbey - Idaho, Montana Calochortus elegans var. subclavatus Baker
References
Further reading Calochortus elegans Hook.f. Bot. Mag. 98: t. 5976. 1872 Calochortus elegans Baker J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14: 305. 1874 [1875 publ. 1874] Calochortus elegans Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 1: 240. 1813 [Dec 1813] Calochortus elegans Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 1: 240. 1813 [dt. 1814; issued Dec 1813]
External links
Calflora Database: Calochortus elegans (Elegant mariposa lily, Northwestern mariposa lily) USDA Plants Profile for Calochortus elegans (elegant mariposa lily) Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Calochortus elegans UC Photos gallery of Calochortus elegans Calochortus elegans at eppo.int (EPPO code CCUEL) Calochortus elegans at global names