Downingia bicornuta var. picta
Doublehorn calicoflower
Photo: parent species Downingia bicornuta · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Downingia bicornuta var. picta (Doublehorn calicoflower) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by prominent blue veins and crossed upper petal tips.
Doublehorn calicoflower is a California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento Valley, and northern San Joaquin Valley in vernal pools, roadside ditches, and lake margins at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this delicate plant produces light blue or pale yellow flowers with prominent blue veins and uniquely crossed upper lobes, creating an intricate floral design approximately 7 to 10 millimeters long. Growing low and spreading, it has slender stems that emerge among seasonal wetland vegetation. Its flowers feature a strongly concave lower lip with two distinctive bristles at the base of the smallest anthers, giving the plant its "doublehorn" character. The flower's complex structure, with its reflexed upper lobes and contrasting blue and yellow coloration, makes this tiny annual a subtle but remarkable inhabitant of California's ephemeral spring landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; key features are prominent blue veins and crossed upper petal tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, roadside ditches, lake margins
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Sacramento, Placer, Fresno, San Joaquin, Amador, Merced, Stanislaus, Yolo, Butte, Sutter, Madera, Yuba, Mariposa
Bloom period
Downingia bicornuta var. picta blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Porterella: Downingia flowers lack yellow ridges; Porterella has two distinctive yellow ridges on the lower lip.; vs Nemacladus: Downingia has showy blue flowers sitting on stem; Nemacladus has threadlike flowers on long stalks.; vs Legenere: Downingia has blue two-lipped flowers; Legenere has small white flowers with nearly equal petals.; vs Lobelia: Downingia is a vernal pool annual; Lobelia is perennial with spherical seed pods.; vs Howellia: Downingia flowers have no stalk; Howellia has short but visible flower stalks 1-8mm long.
Frequently asked questions
Is Downingia bicornuta var. picta native to California?
Yes. Downingia bicornuta var. picta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Downingia bicornuta var. picta bloom?
Downingia bicornuta var. picta blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Downingia bicornuta var. picta grow?
Downingia bicornuta var. picta occurs in Sacramento, Placer, Fresno, San Joaquin, Amador, Merced, Stanislaus, Yolo and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Downingia bicornuta var. picta belong to?
Downingia bicornuta var. picta is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Downingia.
What habitat does Downingia bicornuta var. picta grow in?
Downingia bicornuta var. picta grows in Vernal pools, roadside ditches, lake margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.