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Downingia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Downingia
Downingia concolor
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Subfamily: Lobelioideae
Genus: Downingia
Torr.
Type species
Downingia elegans
Species

13: see text

Synonyms
  • Bolelia Raf.

Downingia is a genus of 13 annual plants native to western North America and Chile. Commonly known as calico flowers, they are notable for forming mass displays of small but colorful blooms around vernal pools. A number are uncommon endemics in California.

The stems may be decumbent or erect, 10–40 cm in length, with narrow cauline leaves that may drop off before the flower develops. The flowers are typically inverted by the twisting of the ovary during blooming. Colors range from blue and pink to white, with the lower (larger) lip including a white or yellow patch. The lower lip generally consists of three lobes, while the upper lip is much smaller and has two lobes.

The genus is named after American horticulturalist A. J. Downing (1815-1852).

Species

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Image Scientific name Common name Distribution
Downingia bacigalupii Bach's calicoflower or Bacigalupi's downingia western United States from California to Idaho
Downingia bella Hoover's calicoflower or Hoover's Downingia Riverside County to areas in the Great Central Valley, California
Downingia bicornuta doublehorn calicoflower United States from California to Idaho
Downingia concolor maroonspot calicoflower and fringed downingia California
Downingia cuspidata toothed calicoflower California to Mexico
Downingia elegans elegant calicoflower or Californian lobelia western North America from California to British Columbia
Downingia insignis harlequin calicoflower or cupped downingia western United States from California to Idaho
Downingia laeta Great Basin calicoflower California to Saskatchewan
Downingia montana Sierra calicoflower California
Downingia ornatissima folded calicoflower California
Downingia pulchella flat-face calicoflower or valley calicoflower Tehachapi Mountains to the San Francisco Bay Area, California
Downingia pusilla dwarf calicoflower Chile and the US state of California
Downingia yina Cascade calicoflower Washington to northern California


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