Calochortus lyallii Baker
Lyall's mariposa lily
Liliaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ian Gardiner     (Photo ID #15664)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Calochortus lyallii
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a deep, papery-scaled, egg-shaped bulb; flowering stems usually erect, 10-50 cm tall, occasionally branched, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaf single, linear, flat, 10-30 cm long, 2-20 mm wide, shorter than the stem, smooth, tapering to both ends, sheathing at the base, the margins entire; stem leaves single, bract-like, about at midpoint.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal cluster of 1 to 4, erect or spreading, stalked flowers, above 2 or more narrowly lanceolate, unequal bracts; flowers white, often tinged with purple, bell- to bowl-shaped; petals 3, distinct, egg-shaped to lanceolate, 2-2.5 cm long, short-clawed, fringed with long hairs on the margins, pimply-surfaced and sparsely bearded on the inside on the lower half above the claws, the nectar gland arching upward, a purple crescent above the gland; sepals lanceolate with long-tapering tips nearly as long as the petals, smooth; stamens 6, anthers tapering to pointed tips; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, ellipsoid, 1.5-2 cm long; 3-winged, erect; seeds many, straw-coloured.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Calochortus lyallii

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1847 1090 2145
Slope Gradient (%)
44 15 75

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

181 90 282
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 1 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
9
Modal BEC Zone Class

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

Habitat and Range

Dry to mesic forest openings in the montane zone; rare in SC BC; S to SE WA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia