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Calochortus (From kalos beautiful)

(from kalos, beautiful, and chortos, grass; referring to the leaves). Mariposa Lily. ORD. Liliaceae. Handsome bulbous plants. Flowers showy, on erect scapes; perianth deciduous; three outer segments sepaloid, three inner ones much larger and broader, and bearded on the inside. Leaves ensiform. Bulbs tunicated. These have not, hitherto, been generally grown in the open air with much success; but in warm localities and sheltered positions, they may be flowered outside. A frame, in a sunny situation, is the best possible place for their cultivation. Here they may be fully exposed to the sun and air, during mild weather, through the winter; and, when expedient, they may be protected from excessive moisture, as that is the primary cause of failure, rather than cold, for they are perfectly hardy, and capable of enduring all the frost we are likely to get. From May onwards, the lights might be wholly removed. From the end of June to August, the bulbs will be in bloom, when, if necessary, the flowers should be fertilised to secure seed; and when the capsules are forming, material assistance would be given by placing the lights on again, allowing plenty of air. Assuming that fresh bulbs are being planted, they should be in the soil early in the autumn, as nothing is more prejudicial than keeping them dry through the winter. A good depth of soil should be provided, composed of fibrous loam, leaf soil, and sand, in equal proportions, in a well-drained position. The bulbs must be planted 3in. deep, and some sand placed about them; they may be left undisturbed for years. Of course, where no frame can be provided, they may be planted in a well-drained, sunny position in the same soil. They are also easily managed in pots, but it is necessary to pot in the autumn, and keep in a frame. Through the winter, they must never be allowed to get dry, until the leaves are withering in the autumn, when water may be withheld. Propagation. This may be effected by seeds or offsets, and by the tiny bulbs frequently produced on the upper portion of the stem. Sow seeds in pans, in a cool house or frame, as soon as ripe, or in the early part of the year, and keep the plants close to the glass during their early stages, as they are very liable to damp off. Sow thinly, so as to enable the young plants to pass a second season in the seed pots or pans. Early in the third season, pot off and plant out singly, encouraging them to grow freely. Propagation by offsets is the most usual method. With liberal treatment, most of the species increase pretty freely. The offsets are best removed when the plants are in a dormant state. They may be either grown in pots or pans, or planted out in pits or frames, until they reach flowering size. During the season of rest, it is the safest plan, with those in pots, to keep them in the earth in which they were grown.

C. albus (white).* fl. snow-white, with a rich blotch, bearded and ciliated, large, globose, pendent; umbels many-flowered, on stems from 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high. California, 1832. This handsome species is rare. SYN. Cyclobothra alba. (B. R. 1661.) C. Benthami (Bentham's).* fl. rich yellow; petals obtuse, densely covered with yellow hairs; stem three to six-flowered. July, August. l. linear, much elongated. h. 4in. to 8in. Sierra Nevada. SYN. C. elegans lutea. C. coeruleus (bluish).* fl. lilac, more or less lined and dotted with dark blue, the petals covered and fringed with slender hairs; stem two to five-flowered. July. l. solitary, linear. h. 3in. to 6in. Sierra Nevada. C. elegans (elegant).* fl. greenish-white, purplish at base; stems three-flowered; petals not ciliate on the margin, or sparingly so. June. h. 8in. California, 1826. This is a rare species.

C. e. lutea (yellow). A synonym of C. Benthami.

C. Gunnisoni (Gunrison's).* fl. light lilac, yellowish-green below the middle, with a purple band encircling the base of the perianth; large, 2in. to 3in. in diameter. Rocky Mountains.

C. Leichtlinii (Leichtlin's). A synonym of C. Nuttallii. C. lilacinus (lilac).* fl. pale pink, hairy below the middle, 1 1/2in. across, with three segments narrow and three broad; scape slender, leafy, bearing one to five flowers. l. solitary, narrow lanceolate, radical. h. 6in. to 8in. California, 1868. SYN. C. umbellatus. (B. M. 5804, under the name of C. uniflorus.) C. luteus (yellow).* fl. terminal, two or three together; exterior segments of the perianth greenish; the inner yellow, bordered with purple hairs. September. h. 1ft. California, 1831. (B. R. 1567.) C. l. oculatus (eyed). fl. very charming bright yellow, with a bold eye on the inside of each petal.

C. macrocarpus (large-capsuled). fl. very large, lavender-coloured, on stems 1ft. high. August. California, 1826. (B. R. 1152.) C. Maweanus (Mawe's). fl., sepals purplish, broadly obovate acute; petals white or bluish-purple, longer than the sepals, the surfaces more or less covered with long purplish hairs. June, July. l. glaucous, linear. Stem three to six-flowered. h. 6in. to 10in. San Francisco, &c. (B. M. 5976, figured under the name of C. elegans.) C. Nuttallii (Nuttall's).* fl. large, 2 1/2in. across; the three smaller segments of the perianth of a greenish colour streaked with red; the three larger segments pure white, with a purple spot at the base on the inner surface; two or three flowers on a stalk. June. l. linear, glaucous. h. 6in. California, 1869. SYN. C. Leichlinii, (B. M. 5862).

C. pulchellus (beautiful).* fl. bright yellow, globular, drooping; umbels three to five-flowered, on stems from 10in. to 12in. high. Summer. California, 1832. A lovely species. (B. R. 1662.) SYN. Cyclobothra pulchella. C. purpureus (purple).* fl., outer segments of the perianth green and purple outside and yellow within; inner segments purple outside and yellow within. August. h. 3ft. Mexico, 1827. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii., 20.) C. splendens (splendid).* fl. clear lilac, large. August. h. 1 1/2ft. California, 1832. (B. R. 1676.) C. umbellatus (umbelled). A synonym of C. lilacinus. C. venustus (charming).* fl. large, white, nearly 3in. in diameter, yellow at the base, deeply stained with crimson, and blotched on each segment with crimson. h. 1 1/2ft. California, 1836.(B. R. 1669.) There are three varieties of this species, viz., brachysepalus (short-sepaled), lilacinus (lilac), and purpureus (purple-flowered).