(n)any of several plants of the genus Calochortus having tulip-shaped flowers with 3 sepals and 3 petals; southwestern United States and Mexico, Syn.mariposa lily, mariposa tulip
[ Sp. mariposa a butterfly + E. lily. So called from the gay appearance of the blossoms. ] (Bot.) One of a genus (Calochortus) of tuliplike bulbous herbs with large, and often gaycolored, blossoms. Called also butterfly lily. Most of them are natives of California. [ 1913 Webster ]