Crowear
Astroa nivea
Memoriae (the Memory family)
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Description
A shrubby perennial with woody stems and aromatic foliage. Heart-shaped leaves with downy undersides and serrated margins.
Bell-shaped flowers hang in nodding racemes, colored copper orange. Blooms at dawn on equinoxes.
Habitat
Colonizes disturbed ground, often the first to return after fire.
Traditional Uses
Dried flowers were burned as incense during ceremonies.
Folklore
Folk wisdom holds that it should never be brought indoors.
Similar Species
Compare with Serpentbloom.
Conservation
Abundant and widespread - no conservation concerns.
Field Notes
Photographing this species requires patience and soft light.