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Calochortus aureus

Golden Mariposa Lily

Family LiliaceaeGenus Calochortus

A yellow cup-shaped flower of three broad petals, each marked with a dark red blotch above a fringed center
FlowerJerryFriedmanCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Lemon yellowFlora of North America
Native range
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, UtahGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Calochortus aureus was described by Sereno Watson in 1873, from plants that Ellen Powell Thompson collected near Kanab, Utah, in 1872, during the survey of the Colorado River led by John Wesley Powell. Wikipedia: Calochortus aureus

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 35 days.

100% germination in 21–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Calochortus p. 109Public domain
Show the original text
Calochortus (Llliaceae). These germ. at 40 like many cold desert plants. Sowing at 70 is harmful. Even a brief 4 w at 70 could lower germination and produce seedlings that did not grow well. C. aureus germ. 40(100% in 3-5 w) and 87% in early March in outdoor treatment. None germ. at 70, even 4 w at 70 reduced the germ. at 40 to 79% in 2-11 w.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Calochortus p. 109. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in early March.

No stated waiting before sowing.

87% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Calochortus p. 109Public domain
Show the original text
Calochortus (Llliaceae). These germ. at 40 like many cold desert plants. Sowing at 70 is harmful. Even a brief 4 w at 70 could lower germination and produce seedlings that did not grow well. C. aureus germ. 40(100% in 3-5 w) and 87% in early March in outdoor treatment. None germ. at 70, even 4 w at 70 reduced the germ. at 40 to 79% in 2-11 w.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Calochortus p. 109. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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