Calochortus monanthus is a presumed extinct North American species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names single-flowered mariposa lily and Shasta River mariposa lily. It was endemic to northern California.[2][3][4][5]

It is presumed extinct, having been collected and documented once over a century ago and never found again. The single known specimen was collected by botanist Edward Lee Greene from a meadow on the banks of the Shasta River, near Yreka in Siskiyou County, California, in June 1876.[3]

Description

Calochortus monanthus had an unbranching stem and an inflorescence of a single erect, bell-shaped flower on a long peduncle. The flower had three sepals about 4 centimeters long and three toothed petals each between 4 and 5 centimeters. The petals were pinkish with a dark red spot at each base.[6]

References

  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Calochortus monanthus Ownbey single flowered mariposa lily
  3. ^ a b Ownbey, Francis Marion 1940. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 27(4): page 465
  4. ^ Ownbey, Francis Marion 1940. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 27(4): plate 39 full-page line-drawing of Calochortus monanthus
  5. ^ Tropicos, Calochortus monanthus Ownbey
  6. ^ Flora of North America, Calochortus monanthus'

External links