mariposa lily

/mɛrəˌpoʊsə ˌlɪli/

Other forms: mariposa lilies

Definitions of mariposa lily

1. noun

   any of several plants of the genus Calochortus having tulip-shaped flowers with 3 sepals and 3 petals; southwestern United States and Mexico
   synonyms: mariposa, mariposa tulip

   types:

   Calochortus elegans, elegant cat's ears, star tulip

   small plant with slender bent stems bearing branched clusters of a few white star-shaped flowers with petals shaped like cat's ears; southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon to Montana

   Calochortus kennedyi, desert mariposa tulip

   mariposa with clusters of bell-shaped vermilion or orange or yellow flowers atop short stems; southern California to Arizona and Mexico

   Calochortus luteus, yellow mariposa tulip

   mariposa having clusters of a few large deep yellow bell-shaped flowers atop slender stems; California coastal ranges

   Calochortus macrocarpus, sagebrush mariposa tulip

   mariposa having loose clusters of one to three handsome lilac flowers resembling umbels atop stout erect stems; arid northwestern North America east of Cascade Mountains from southern British Columbia to northern California

   type of:

   liliaceous plant

   plant growing from a bulb or corm or rhizome or tuber