Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Calochortus cernuus

(Calochortus cernuus)

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Description

Calochortus cernuus is a rare Mexican species of plants in the lily family. It is found only in the hills surrounding the community of Tepoztlán in the State of Morelos south of Mexico City, northeast of Cuernavaca. Calochortus cernuus is a bulb-forming herb up to 40 cm tall, usually unbranched. Flowers are nodding (hanging) with dark brown sepals and purple petals. Calochortus /ˌkæləˈkɔːrtəs, -loʊ-/ is a genus of flowering plants in the lily family. The group includes herbaceous, perennial and bulbous species, all native to North America (primarily the Western United States). The genus Calochortus includes mariposas (or mariposa lilies) with open wedge-shaped petals, globe lilies and fairy lanterns with globe-shaped flowers, and cat's ears and star tulips with erect pointed petals. The word Calochortus is derived from Greek and means "beautiful grass" Calochortus flowers have six tepals. Unlike most other Liliaceae, Calochortus tepals are in two series that differ in size and color. The outer three are generally narrower and more sepal-like, while the inner three are larger, usually with bright marks at the base.They may be described as petals.The flowers are borne on a stem that arises from a bulb, generally in the spring or early summer. Flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, bluish, or streaked. The insides of the petals are often very 'hairy'. These hairs, along with the nectaries, are often used in distinguishing species from each other.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Liliopsida
Order:Liliales
Family:Liliaceae
Genus:Calochortus
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