| Calochortus kennedyi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Genus: | Calochortus |
| Species: | C. kennedyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Calochortus kennedyi Porter |
|
Calochortus kennedyi is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name desert mariposa lily. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is a perennial herb which produces a slender, unbranching, sometimes twisting stem up to 50 centimeters tall, but generally shorter. There is a basal leaf 10 to 20 centimeters long which is waxy in texture and withers at flowering. The inflorescence bears 1 to 6 erect bell-shaped flowers in a loose cluster. Each flower has three sepals and three petals which are usually spotted at the bases. The petals may be 5 centimeters long and are yellow, orange, or red in color. The fruit is an angled, striped capsule up to 6 centimeters in length.