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Botanical Description

ex Benth. Pulchelli. Height 10-50cm, very variable. Basal leaf 20-50cm long, 1.4cm wide, stem leaves two to six, narrow. Stems branched, each branch with two to three flowers. Flowers globular, nodding, white, sometimes tinged rose, the petals moderately hairy with large glands having three to four fringed membranes. California in foothills of Sierra Nevada and Coastal Ranges, in light woodland and scrub. C.a. var. rubellus has very dark rose-coloured flowers of exceptional beauty. One of the easiest species to raised from seed and to grow under glass.

Joint Rock: Joint Rock Awards, Wimborne, 6 June, 2009

a, C. albus; b, C. apiculatus; c, C. barbatus; d, C.  lyallii;