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Calochortus leichtlinii
Conservation status
	; Apparently Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Liliaceae
Genus:	Calochortus
Species:	C. leichtlinii
Binomial name
	Calochortus leichtlinii; Hook.f.
Synonyms
	Calochortus nuttallii var. leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Smiley; Mariposa leichtlinii (Hook.f.) Hoover; Calochortus nuttallii var. subalpinus M.E.Jones;

Calochortus leichtlinii is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Leichtlin's mariposa, smokey mariposa, and mariposa lily.^[3]^[4]

The plant is native to the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau of California and adjacent parts of the Great Basin in southeastern Oregon and western Nevada.^[5] It grows in coniferous forest and chaparral habitats, including the lowest grassy hills—such as along the Sierra Nevada boundary with the Central Valley and agriculture.^[6]^[7]

The small underground bulbs were eaten by the Native Americans.

Description

Calochortus leichtlinii is a perennial herb producing an erect, unbranching stem up to 60 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 10 to 15 centimeters long and withers by flowering.

The inflorescence is a loose cluster of 1 to 5 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three petals 1 to 4 centimeters long which are white, pinkish, or dull blue in color and spotted with yellow and dark red or black and hairy at the bases.^[8] These color patterns vary widely among different regional and local populations.

The fruit is a narrow capsule up to 6 centimeters long.