Alpenglow Images Nature & Landscape Photography by Greg Russell

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Mariposa Lilies

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. The word Calochortus is derived from Greek and means "beautiful grass". Flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, bluish, or streaked. The insides of the petals are often highly hairy. These hairs, along with the nectaries, are often used in distinguishing species from each other. These flowers were photographed near the Pacific Crest Trail on the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, California.

To read more about these magnificent flowers, please visit my blog here.

Palmer's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus palmerii); Image #0280 C. palmerii; Image #0281 Image #0282 Image #0283 Desert Mariposa Lily (Calochortus kennedyi); Image #0284 C. kennedyi; Image #0285 Image #0286