Authors: Greene
The most suitable Parryi species for exhibition. Leaves deciduous, with involute vernation, narrowly spathulate, smooth, without farina or hairs, entire to finely toothed, 3-8cm long and 1-2.5cm wide at flowering, elongating later. Flowers bluish-purple to magenta with a red ringed yellow eye, flat-faced with overlapping petals, annulate, 22-27 mm diameter, in onesided umbels of four to twelve on stems 6-20cm high, often white farinose in the upper part. Sepals with 10 ridges, alternately brown and silver-farinose. Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico and Guatemala on damp, shady rocks at 2400-3300m. Var. ellisiae with the corolla tube only equalling the calyx and larger bluer flowers comes from central New Mexico. Not difficult grown cool in the alpine house, but difficult to grow to a high standard. Requires a lot of water as it comes into growth and a heavy feeder.
