California hesperochiron is a low, matted, somewhat pubescent perennial with oval to oblong, entire-margined, densely- to sparsely-hairy leaves in a basal rosette and solitary, bell- or funnel-shaped flowers in the leaf axils.  The corolla is white to bluish, to 1" long and 3/4" wide, and there are 5 stamens.  This species may be found from 4000' to 9000' in moist places, meadows and valleys, and montane coniferous forest from the San Bernardinos to Mt. Pinos and north.  The blooming period is May to July.  Another species, H. pumilis, has a rotate corolla and leaves that are glabrous at least on the lower surfaces.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Hesperochiron 2) californicus.
Pronunciation: hes-per-oh-KY-ron ka-li-FOR-ni-kus.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.