Calochortus gunnisonii var. perpulcher (Pecos Mariposa Lily)

Family

LILIACEAE

Scientific Name with Author

Calochortus gunnisonii S. Watson var. perpulcher Cockerell

Synonyms

NONE

Common Name

Pecos Mariposa Lily

Agency Status
USFWS	State of NM	USFS, SCC	BLM	Navajo Nation	State Rank	Global Rank	NMRPTC Status
		SCC			S1	G5T1	R

Rare Plant Conservation Scorecard Summary
Overall Conservation Status	Documented Threats	Actions Needed
UNDER CONSERVED	No Information	Population trend monitoring. Document threats (grazing, climate change, recreation), taxonomic work

To download the Scorecard click here.

Counties

Description

Erect perennial herbs, from ovoid bulbs, stems slender, usually one per bulb, 2-6 dm tall, bearing a few long, narrow leaves and 1-3 flowers at the apex; flowers 3-merous, large, bell-shaped, erect; sepals lanceolate, 2-3 cm long; petals obovate, pale yellow, 3-4 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, each with an interior basal gland surrounded by golden hairs that branch at the tips; capsules linear-oblong, acute, 3-angled. Flowers late July and August.

Similar Species

Calochortus gunnisonii is the only species of mariposa lily in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Variety gunnisonii also occurs in these mountains and is distinguished by its white, pale purple, or dark purple petals.

Distribution

New Mexico, southwestern Mora, northwestern San Miguel, and southwestern Colfax counties; southeastern part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Habitat

Meadows and aspen glades in upper montane coniferous forest; 2,900-3,400 m (9,500-11,200 ft).

Comments

This is hardly more than a color form of a variable species and needs further study. Yet it is difficult to find. Attempts to relocate the historical population on Hermit Peak have been unsuccessful.

A new population (with photo documentation) was reported from southwestern Colfax County in 2006 by Bill Dobbs.

Conservation Considerations

Presumably, variety perpulcher requires the same habitats as the common variety. Nothing is known of this species response to livestock grazing and forest fire. Gardening hobbyists will occasionally take mariposa lily bulbs from their native habitats for gardens, but these efforts nearly always go unrewarded and should not be attempted.

References

*Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal and P.K. Holmgren. 1977. Intermountain Flora, the Monocotyledons, vol. 6. Columbia University Press, New York.

Ownbey, M. 1940. A monograph of the genus Calochortus. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 27:371-553.

Information Compiled By

Robert Sivinski 1999, last updated 2006

For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico