golden mariposa lily

Calochortus aureus is a perennial herb in the Liliaceae family, native to the southwestern United States. It is characterized by a single, slender stalk reaching up to 30 cm in height. The plant produces showy flowers with a bright lemon-yellow color and distinctive red or purple markings on the petals. It is found in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The species was first described in 1873 by S. Watson.