Calochortus 2015

[fermi de Sousa]

These won't be in flower for awhile but I thought it was worth showing these babies which I was re-potting today.
Both grown from AGS Seedex 2011 sown on 30-03-2011
Calochortus vestae 9 sown, 7 bulbs and 2 "stem bulbils"
Calochortus nuttallii 32 sown, 22 bulbs and 1 bulbil
cheers
fermi

[Steve Garvie]

First Calochortus in flower here:
Calochortus tolmiei

[fermi de Sousa]

Calochortus splendens flowering now,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

Very beautiful examples of Calochortus splendens.     The closest population to us is over in Lake County. The Valley Fire and some other fires burned half the county..... or it certainly seems that way, however the wildflowers and bulbs should be divine next year if we get some decent rainfall this winter. I am eager to get over there as there are many treasures to see in the spring. Calochortus luteus may no longer grow in El Dorado County, however it is plentiful over in Lake County and other near by areas. I certainly have looked.

Calochortus catalinae and albus are already showing above ground (kinda early!    ). I will have to wait til spring. Anyway, I can enjoy your photographs until ours arrive this coming spring. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Robert,
I hope your season isn't affected by the early appearance of these calochorti.
The next one to flower is one I got as Calochortus venustus, which looks similar to C. superbus, except for the median stripe,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

What a beautiful creamy-white Calochortus venustus. It definitely looks like the real thing to me. The 2nd paler blocth above the first blotch, the pinkish or lilac anthers are all indicative of C. venustus. Recurved sepal tips are a good give-away too.

With C. superbus the dark blotch is always surrounded by a bright yellow zone. The anthers of both C. superbus and C. venustus can be white to light yellow. With C. superbus never lilac or pink. No recurved sepal tips on C. superbus either.

It is good for me to review all of this as sometimes I still get fooled out in the field looking at the two species. 

A hand lens and checking on the hairs, nectary, etc. are important too. I like to remember all of this as I rarely bring a field guide out with me when I am on an outing. This does sharpen my skills.

Fortunately most of our Calochortus are still underground.    Some of the southern California species seem to be prone to early growth in our area.

I will enjoy seeing your C. nuttallii blooming!

[fermi de Sousa]

Thank you, Robert, for your info.
Here's another one - Calochortus clavatus var recurvifolius -pics taken 2 days apart
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

Calochortus clavatus var. avius is our local variety. It was, and maybe still is, called Pleasant Valley Mariposa Lily. Pleasant Valley is about 5 miles up the road from the farm here. Within my lifetime there were millions growing in Pleasant Valley, now there may not be any (at least I have not seen any for years and I do look).

Fortunately, they still grow farther up the mountain in the National Forest where they are relatively safe. I saw a few in passing in the auto this summer. It was unfortunate that I did not have the time to get out and photograph them. 

I am continually frustrated with the Calochortus in the wild. My personal opinion this that this Genus needs a considerable amount of study still. Hybrids in the wild can be extremely common. Some plants will fit neatly into their species category others will not.

If I saw your plant of Calochortus clavatus var. recurvifloius in the field I would add aff. at the end of the name. To me it looks very much like C. clavatus except that the anthers are yellow. According to Jepson the anthers should be purple, or at least dark brown.    This sort of stuff frustrates me all the time. Clearly I am no expert!

It might be better for me to just enjoy such beautiful plants, unfortunately I am driven by an intense curiosity.

I am certainly grateful that you share the photographs of your excellent and beautiful Calochortus, especially the California species. It does test my skills to look at them.

Fantastic work Fermi! They look great! 

[fermi de Sousa]

Robert,
sorry for the delay in replying!
Thanks for taking the time to examine the pics I post and giving me your opinion on their naming. I can't remember whether that one was bought as a bulb under that name or raised from seed. And, yes, "aff" is a very handy addition to many a plant that we grow in Australia!
Here's what should be the last one for the year from me; Calochortus clavatus from NARGS Seedex donated by "our own" Cyril La Fong!
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

I have certainly enjoyed the photographs of the various Calochortus species. I think that C. splendens was my favorite.

When I am out doing field botany I often use aff. when recording my findings.    So much goes on in nature that it is sometimes difficult to conveniently assign a species or ssp. / variety name to a plant. And then, many experts have their opinions about where a plant belongs in the scheme of taxonomy. At one time Wayne Roderick considered Calochortus vestae as a form of C. venustus. And then there are all of the natural hybrids that occur. I have to admit that I do not mind the variety within the plant kingdom. Such variety can certainly add beauty and interest to our gardens. 

I am looking forward to the coming season, both in the garden as well as out with the wild plants. Winter has finally returned to California after being absent for the last 4 years! The plants are very dormant. It will be late January - early February before much starts to wake-up.