Subalpine Mariposa Lily (Calachortus subalpinus)

The subalpine mariposa lily belongs to my favorite genus of flowering plants, Calachortus! This flowering plant is in the Lily family and is endemic to Washington and Oregon. It grows in mid-elevation forests throughout the northwest in both shady and exposed areas. The flowers themselves are three petaled (fused) that vary in color between white and light lavender. On each petal, they have small orange/yellow hairs near its nectary which is used to attract pollinators. Sometimes you can see a crescent of purple on the inner edge of the petal. They grow in clusters at the top of a branchless, leafless stem with 1-5 flowers. The sepals are about as long as the petals and have a small purple spot at its base. Found this growing in the Ponderosa Pine understory along with snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis) at the Conboy Wildlife Refuge near Mt. Adams. This is actually the first time I have seen a Calachortus in the northwest. 1 down, 13 to find!