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 Image Scientific name Common name Distribution Downingia bacigalupiiBach's calicoflower or Bacigalupi's downingiawestern United States from California to Idaho Downingia bellaHoover's calicoflower or Hoover's Downingia Riverside 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 downingia western United States from California to Idaho Downingia laetaGreat Basin calicoflower California to Saskatchewan Downingia montanaSierra calicoflower California Downingia ornatissimafolded calicoflowerCalifornia Downingia pulchella flat-face calicoflower or valley calicoflower Tehachapi Mountains to the San Francisco Bay Area, California Downingia pusilladwarf calicoflower Chile and the US state of California Downingia yinaCascade calicoflowerWashington to northern California
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment USDA Plants Profile