Cat’s-Ears. Pussy’s-Ears
Calochortus Maweanus, Leichtlein. Lily Family
Hab.—The Coast Ranges and Sierras, from San Francisco and Butte County to the Willamette Valley.
This is an exceedingly pretty little Calochortus, much resembling C. Benthami in form, but having pure-white or purplish-blue flowers, which are also covered with hairs and delicately fringed with hairs on the margin. Its stems are low, slender, and graceful, without bulblets at the base; and the gland upon the petals has a transverse scale covering its upper portion.
This plant belongs to the section of Calochortus whose species are known as “star-tulips.” In the Coast Ranges, in early spring, the blossoms are found in moist meadows near the sea, where they nestle amid the grasses.
The children are specially fond of them, and know them as “cat’s-ears” and “pussy’s-ears.”
C. uniflorus, Hook. and Arn., found in wet meadows from San Francisco northward, has lilac to rose-purple flowers. Its petals are hairy on the lower third, and its stems bear small bulblets at the base underground.
C. umbellatus, Wood., is very similar to C. Maweanus; but its pure-white petals are almost without hairs, and its stem is without bulblets. This is found blooming in March and April on the low mountains of Contra Costa and Marin Counties.