A single Fritillaria ojaiensis growing along Fremont Trail in the Santa Ynez Mountains. This photo is from early spring 2014.
This variety of lily is endemic to California. It’s listed by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) as being rare throughout its range, considered to be an endangered species. I completed a California Native Species Field Survey Form for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The data will purportedly be added to the state’s Natural Diversity Database, which according to CNPS is “the largest, most comprehensive database of its type in the world. It presently contains more than 65,000 site-specific records on California’s rarest plants, animals and natural communities.”
A Fritillaria ojaiensis leaf sprouting from a bank along Oso Creek in the Los Padres National Forest. There is a fairly large grouping of them at this site, more than 100 individual plants. Photo from February 2015.
With more sun exposure the leaves take on a bronze hue.
Jack Elliott's Santa Barbara Adventure 
Nice find – love the 2nd photo!
Carol.
Jack, beautiful photos; thanks for the nice respite.
Cool article thank you
Very cool…what a treat it would to see one of these while on the trail. Thanks for sharing
I just found one of these at the top of Tequipis Trail 5/15/2021. Never saw one before. Must have come back from the Whittier fire four years ago.