Calochortus amabilis

Calochortus amabilis[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] (syn. C. pulchellus var. amabilis)[10] is a species of the genus Calochortus in the family Liliaceae. It is also known by the common names Diogenes' lantern,[1][2][3][6] yellow globe-tulip,[6] golden globe-tulip,[3] yellow globe lily,[2] golden fairy lantern,[2][3][5][8][9] golden lily-bell,[6] Chinese lantern,[3] and short lily.[7]

Calochortus amabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Calochortus
Species:
C. amabilis
Binomial name
Calochortus amabilis
Purdy

Distribution and habitat

The plant is endemic to northern California, from the east bay [notably in Mount Diablo State Park <mdia.org>] and north of the San Francisco Bay Area.[2][3][4][11] It grows in the Northern California Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains, from 100 metres (330 ft)[1][3]–1,000 metres (3,300 ft)[1]–1,500 metres (4,900 ft)[3] in altitude. It is a common member of the scrub and woodland flora, found on dry slopes in California oak woodland and chaparral habitats.[1][2] Soil types vary, from the nearly solid serpentine rock to yellow clay.[3] Natural habitat is quite wet, with 75 cm or more of rain per year, followed by a dry, hot summer. Winters are cool but not frigid (USDA zones 8-9). The growing season is from midwinter to the April–May-June flowering and seed set. The plant is dormant from mid-June to November.[3]

Common understory plant associates are Calochortus luteus, Clarkia unguiculata and Delphinium variegatum.

Description

Calochortus amabilis is a bulbous perennial herb producing an upright, somewhat waxy branching stem to heights between 10 and 50 centimeters.[1] The leaf at the base of the stem is flat, waxy, and narrow in shape, reaching up to 50 centimeters long and not withering away at flowering.[1][12]

The inflorescence bears two or more heavily nodding flowers, each with spreading pointed yellow sepals and brown-speckled yellow petals. The inside of the petals is waxy and coated in small hairs. The fruit is a winged capsule up to three centimeters long containing dark brown seeds.[1][4]

  • Height: 10-[1][4] 20-[2] 30-[6] 50 cm[1][2][4] (4–20 in) high at maturity.
  • Spread: 5 cm (2 in) spread.[4]
  • Stems: Stems are glaucous,[1][3][6] stout,[6] flexuous,[3] and generally branching,[1][2][3][6] reaching 10-[1][3][5] 20-30[6]-50 cm.[1][3][5]
  • Leaves: Leaves come in two types: cauline[1][2][6] or basal[1][2] (radical).[6]
    • Basal/radical leaves: Basal leaves are shiny,[3] lanceolate-acuminate,[6] narrow,[2] measure 20-[1] 25-[6] 50 cm[1][2] in length, and are persistent[1][3] through the bloom and early fruiting stage.[3]
    • Cauline leaves: 2-4 laceolate to linear leaves,[1] measuring 2–20 cm in length.[1][2]
  • Inflorescences: Nodding,[1][2][6] pendent[3] flowers are borne in groups of 2-many,[1] hanging in open branched clusters.[2] Bracts are lanceolate, and measure 2–10 cm in length.[1]
    • Flowers: Flowers measure about 2.5-[2][3] 4 cm[3] in length and are borne from April–June.[1][2]
    • Perianth: Perianth is spheric and is either neatly closed at the tip[1] or has petals that overlap slightly at the tip.[1][6]
      • Sepals: Three[2][6] conspicuous[4] ovate[1] to lanceolate,[1][2] spreading sepals, are deeply appressed at the base to the petals.[3] Sepals are often tinged green[3][4] or red,[3] and measure 1.5-[1] 2 cm[1][2] long. Sepals are held horizontally to slightly descending.[3]
      • Petals: Three[2][6] ovate [6] or widely lanceolate[1] petals with a short claw and obtuse apex[6] are deeply[1][2] to brightly[3] yellow, sometimes tinged green[3][4] with abaxial brown spots [1] and are glabrous,[1][6] except for the margins, which are densely ciliate (having a fringe of hairs),[1][2][6][3] Petals are slightly longer than sepals[2] and measure 1.6-[1] 2 cm long.[1][2]
    • Nectary: Crescent-shaped[1][4][2][3] to almost rectangular,[3] depressed,[1][3] (forming a knoblike structure on the outside of each petal)[3] with several transverse, fringed membranes with white or yellow glandular hairs measuring 1/3-2/3 of the width of the petals.[1]
    • Stamens:
      • Filaments: 5mm in length, dilated at the base.[1]
      • Anthers: 3-4mm in length, white to pale yellow.[1]
  • Fruit: Nodding, oblong, winged capsule, measuring 2–3 cm in length.[1]
  • Seeds: Dark brown and irregularly shaped.[1]

Uses

Food

The bulbs of Calochortus amabilis are a traditional food of the Kashaya Pomo of California, who bake or boil the bulbs, which are then eaten like baked or boiled potatoes.[7][13] They are a beloved food of the Pomo, locally referred to as "bo".[6]

Cultivation

Calochortus amabilis is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty native plant and bulb nurseries, for use in traditional and wildlife gardens, and natural landscaping projects.

  • Hardiness: Hardy,[3][4] particularly if well mulched. In cold areas, it can be grown in an alpine house or an unheated glasshouse.[3]
  • Light : Prefers sun[5] to partial[3][5] or full shade.[3]
  • Soil: Adaptable, but prefers well-drained soil.[5] Prefers a humus-rich, water-retentive medium with up to two thirds organic matter and one third sand, gravel, or grit.[3]
  • Water: Drought tolerant to moderate.[5] In the wild, the plant grows in areas with more than 2.5 cm of rain per week during the growing season. If grown in pots, plants should get 2.2-3.8 cm of water per week, since containers typically dry out more quickly. Complete dryness is needed for the dormant season; some growers dig the bulbs up for the summer to prevent premature autumn growth or bulb rot.[3]
  • Propagation: Sow seed as soon as ripe.[4] Seeds require no treatment to aid germination.[9]
  • Pests and diseases: Trouble free.[4]

In the wild, C. amabilis naturally hybridizes with Calochortus tolmiei.[3]

Etymology

Amabilis means 'pleasing', 'likeable', or 'lovely'. Calochortus is derived from Greek meaning 'beautiful grass', a reference to the characteristic grass-like foliage of the genus.[14] The full name translates literally to 'lovable, beautiful grass'.[2][14]

References
  1. Baldwin, B. G., D. H. Goldman, D. J. Keil, R. Patterson, T. J. Rosatti, and D. H. Wilken, editors. 2012. "The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California", second edition. University of California press, Berkeley. ISBN 9780520253124 pp 1380-1381
  2. Spellenberg, Richard, Professor Emeritus of Biology, New Mexico State University, National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers: Western Region, copyright 2001 by Chanticleer Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. ISBN 0375402330 pp 576
  3. Gerritsen, Mary E. and Ron Parsons, 2007. "Calochortus : Mariposa lilies and their relatives", Timber Press. ISBN 9780881928440. pp 52-54
  4. Brickell, Christopher "The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants (Volume 1: A-J)", 3rd ed. Copyright 1996, 2003, 2008 Dorling Kindersley Ltd., London. ISBN 9781405332965 pp 213-214
  5. Carol Bornstein, David Fross, Bart O'Brien 2007. "California Native Plants for the Garden". Cachuma Press. ISBN 0962850586 (paperback) ISBN 0962850594 (hardcover). pp 212
  6. Parsons, Mary Elizabeth "The Wild Flowers of California", illustrated by Margaret Warriner Buck. Published by Cunningham, Curtiss & Welch, San Francisco 1912. Copyright William Doxey 1897, copyright Mary Elizabeth Parsons 1902, 1906. (no ISBN for this edition) pp 148-149
  7. Moerman, Daniel E. "Native American Food Plants: An Ethnobotanical Dictionary", first ed. Copyright Timber Press, Inc. 2010. ISBN 9781604691894 (hardcover). pp 67
  8. Howell, John Thomas. "Marin Flora: Manual of Flowering Plants and Ferns of Marin County, California", second edition. Copyright 1949, 1970, 1985, University of California Press. ISBN 0520056213 pp 106
  9. Emery, Dara E. "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants", 6th edition (printed 2011). Copyright 1988 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. ISBN 0916436039. pp 43
  10. The Plant List
  11. Flora of North America
  12. C. Michael Hogan. 2009. GlobalTwitcher.com: Gold Nuggets: Calochortus luteus Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, ed. N. Stromberg.
  13. University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Calochortus amabilis
  14. Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 44, 86
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