Taxon Report

Calochortus pulchellus Benth.

Mt. Diablo fairy-lantern

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Taxon Summary

Calochortus pulchellus, commonly known as Mt. Diablo fairy-lantern, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Liliaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Riparian woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 30 to 840 meters. Calochortus pulchellus is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Calochortus pulchellus Benth.
Common Name:
Mt. Diablo fairy-lantern
Family: Liliaceae
Element Code: PMLIL0D160
USDA Plants Symbol: CAPU2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun Apr-Jun
Elevation: 30-840 (100-2755)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Riparian woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 52
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 17
   Fair (C) 5
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 26
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA), Contra Costa (CCA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Antioch South (3712187), Benicia (3812212), Briones Valley (3712282), Byron Hot Springs (3712176), Clayton (3712188), Diablo (3712178), Las Trampas Ridge (3712271), Tassajara (3712177), Walnut Creek (3712281)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 14
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
21 40 %
Road/trail construction/maint. 10 19%
Foot traffic/trampling 6 11%
Grazing 6 11%
Non-native plant impacts 4 7%
Erosion/runoff 3 5%
Over-collecting/poaching 3 5%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 2 3%
Feral pigs 2 3%
Other 2 3%
Improper burning regime 1 1%
Insufficient population/stand size 1 1%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 1 1%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 1 1%
Development 1 1%

Notes

Threatened by grazing, urbanization, horticultural collection, and feral pigs. Potentially threatened by road maintenance. See Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences III 2:118 (1901) for taxonomic treatment, and Journal of Ecology 75:977-995 (1987) for population biology.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 31 January 2025].