Downingia cuspidata

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = |genus = Downingia |species = cuspidata |authority = (Greene) Greene ex Jepson }}

'''''Downingia cuspidata''''' is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name '''toothed calicoflower'''. This showy wildflower is native to California, where it is a resident of ponds, meadows, and vernal pool ecosystems throughout the state. Its range may extend into Mexico.

This annual grows on a branching erect stem with small leaves at intervals. At the top of each stem branch is one or more flowers, each about a centimeter wide. The tubular flower has two long, narrow, pointed upper lobes which may be blue or purple to nearly white. The lower lip is fused into one three-lobed surface, which is blue, purple, or white with a large blotch or two smaller blotches of yellow in the center, outlined in white. Each lobe may have a toothlike point.

==External links== *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?2770,2783,2792 Jepson Manual Treatment] *[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DOCU USDA Plants Profile] *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Downingia+cuspidata Photo gallery]

cuspidata Category:Flora of California Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status