Search / Plant Profile / Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis

Plant Profile

Club-haired Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis)

Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Liliaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 128271
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis is a geographic subspecies of the Club-haired Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus) and is also the smallest of the four known subspecies. Endemic to the mountain ranges in northern Los Angeles, C. c. var. gracilis can be found in the mountainous chaparral and coastal sage communities alongside a variety of local buckwheat, mint, manzanita, and grasses. During the blooming season (March-June), this delicate herb can be characterized by their golden-yellow petals; brown, internal zigzag patterns; and internally bearded texture. They are currently threatened by road maintenance, off-road vehicles, and invasive plant competition.

Where is Club-haired Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

C. c. var. gracilis is a mountainous chaparral and coastal sage plant species that grows best in shaded areas and open slopes. They are commonly found co-occurring alongside other chaparral species including but not limited to Avena fatua, Arctostaphylos glauca, Yucca whipplei, Bromus hordeaceus, Mimulus aurantiacus, and Ceanothus cuneatus.

Distribution:

Currently, C. c. var. gracilis can be found in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Within these counties, they primarily occur within Angeles National Forest and the south side of San Gabriel Mountains.

States & Provinces:

Club-haired Mariposa Lily can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Club-haired Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis)?

California Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 3 accessions of Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 70789 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden has collected 1 seed accessions of Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 40 maternal plants