Alternate name: Red Mariposa Lily, Flame Mariposa

Family: Liliaceae, Lily view all from this family

Description In an umbel-like cluster on top of short stems bloom 1-6 handsome bell-shaped, vermilion, orange, or yellow flowers.
Flowers: 1-2" (2.5-3.8 cm) wide; sepals 3, lanceolate; petals 3, broad, fan-shaped, each with a dark maroon blotch near base and a round, depressed gland surrounded by a fringed membrane; near the gland are a few hairs with enlarged tips.
Leaves: 4-8" (10-20 cm) long, few, narrowly lanceolate.
Height: 4-20" (10-50 cm).

Flower March-June.

Habitat Heavy soil in open or brushy areas from creosotebush deserts to pinon and juniper rangeland.

Range Southern California to central Arizona; south into northwestern Mexico.

Discussion One of the most brilliant of the mariposa lilies. In California, vermilion flowers are most frequent; orange flowers are more common eastward. The yellow phase is found throughout the range, especially at higher elevations.