About Calochortus venustus Douglas ex Benth.
Calochortus venustus is a perennial herb that grows a branching stem 10 to 60 centimeters tall. It produces a single basal leaf that can reach up to 20 centimeters long, and this leaf withers before the plant blooms. Its inflorescence forms a loose cluster holding 1 to 6 upright, bell-shaped flowers. Flowers of this species vary in size and color; they are often showy with intricate patterns. Petals can come in a wide range of colors, from white, pale pink, and purple to bright red or orange, with a large dark blotch in the center and a smaller, paler blotch positioned above it. The flowers typically have three curving sepals 2 to 3 centimeters long, and three oval-shaped, clawed petals that grow up to 5 centimeters long. After flowering, it produces an angled seed capsule that measures 5 to 6 centimeters long. This species is endemic to California, where it occurs from Shasta County in the north to San Diego County in the south. It is particularly common in the San Gabriel Mountains, the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Coast Ranges between Oakland and Los Angeles. It grows best in light, sandy soils across multiple habitat types including grasslands and open wooded areas, at altitudes between 300 and 2,700 meters (980 to 8,860 feet).
