Calochortus monanthus
Encyclopedia
Calochortus monanthus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family
known by the common names single-flowered mariposa lily and Shasta River mariposa lily. It is presumed extinct
, having been collected and documented once over a century ago and never found again. The single known specimen was collected by botanist Edward Lee Greene
from a meadow on the banks of the Shasta River
near Yreka, California
, in June of 1876. The plant had an unbranching stem and an inflorescence
of a single erect, bell-shaped flower on a long peduncle
. The flower had three sepal
s about 4 centimeters long and three toothed petal
s each between 4 and 5 centimeters. The petals were pinkish with a dark red spot at each base.
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
known by the common names single-flowered mariposa lily and Shasta River mariposa lily. It is presumed extinct
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
, having been collected and documented once over a century ago and never found again. The single known specimen was collected by botanist Edward Lee Greene
Edward Lee Greene
Edward Lee Greene, Ph.D., was an American botanist known for his numerous publications including the two-part Landmarks of Botanical History and the naming or redescribing of over 4,400 species of plants in the American West.- Early Life :Edward Lee Greene was born on August 20, 1843 in...
from a meadow on the banks of the Shasta River
Shasta River
The Shasta River is a tributary of the Klamath River, approximately long, in northern California in the United States. It drains the Shasta Valley on the west and north sides of Mount Shasta in the Cascade Range....
near Yreka, California
Yreka, California
Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2010 census, up from 7,290 at the 2000 census.- History:...
, in June of 1876. The plant had an unbranching stem and an inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of a single erect, bell-shaped flower on a long peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
. The flower had three sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s about 4 centimeters long and three toothed petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s each between 4 and 5 centimeters. The petals were pinkish with a dark red spot at each base.