Downingia

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.

Downingia
Downingia concolor
Scientific 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.

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
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Downingia bacigalupiiBach's calicoflower or Bacigalupi's downingiawestern United States from California to Idaho
Downingia bellaHoover's calicoflower or Hoover's DowningiaRiverside County to areas in the Great Central Valley, California
Downingia bicornutadoublehorn calicoflowerUnited States from California to Idaho
Downingia concolormaroonspot calicoflower and fringed downingiaCalifornia
Downingia cuspidatatoothed calicoflowerCalifornia to Mexico
Downingia eleganselegant calicoflower or Californian lobeliawestern North America from California to British Columbia
Downingia insignisharlequin calicoflower or cupped downingiawestern United States from California to Idaho
Downingia laetaGreat Basin calicoflowerCalifornia to Saskatchewan
Downingia montanaSierra calicoflowerCalifornia
Downingia ornatissimafolded calicoflowerCalifornia
Downingia pulchellaflat-face calicoflower or valley calicoflowerTehachapi Mountains to the San Francisco Bay Area, California
Downingia pusilladwarf calicoflowerChile and the US state of California
Downingia yinaCascade calicoflowerWashington to northern California


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