large genus of West North American leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs.

large genus of western North American leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs

Calochortus is a genus of bulbous plants that includes 70 species from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to Nebraska. Calochortus is the most widely dispersed genus of Liliaceae on the North American Pacific coast.Dale, Nancy; Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Capra Press, 1986; pg. 28 Of these, 28 species are endemic to California.USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Plant Profile for Calochortus Pursh; Data contributed by John K. Kartesz and USDA-NRCS National Plant Data Center The genus Calochortus includes Mariposas (or Mariposa lilies) with open wedge-shaped petals, Globe lilies and Fairy lanterns with globe-shaped flowers, and Cat's ears and Star tulips with erect pointed petals.