Authors:
Basically similar to M. luteus, but of tufted habit and short-lived, sometimes behaving as an annual. Generally 20-30cm in height, sometimes smaller. Leaves ovate, three to five-veined, 2-3cm long. Flowers coppery-orange to coppery-red, with a yellow throat, about 4cm long, summer. Southern Chile, wettish places in the mountains. Several popular red-flowered cultivars are derived from this species, probably of hybrid origin with M. luteus or M. guttatus. Commercially available clones (probably of this origin) are 'Fire King', 'Fire Dragon', 'Highland Red', 'Inshriach Crimson', 'Plymtree', 'Red Emperor', 'Scarlet Bee', 'Scarlet Bay', 'Wisley Red' and 'Whitecroft Scarlet'. Not all are reliably winter hardy.
