mariposa lily

noun

mar·​i·​po·​sa lily ˌmer-ə-ˈpō-zə- 

ˌma-rə-,

-sə-

: any of a genus (Calochortus) of western North American plants of the lily family with showy flowers having three petals and three sepals

called also mariposa tulip

compare sego lily

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Naturalist Ann Sarg suggests visiting the park to catch blooms in May, when natives like Nelson’s larkspur, nuttall violet, sand lilies, and mariposa lily bloom along paths like the Willow Creek trail. —Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

probably from American Spanish mariposa, from Spanish, butterfly

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above