Flexible, branching stems 6–24 inches long sprawl over the ground and low plants. The 1–4 delicate, lilac-tinged flowers have 3 rounded petals with yellow bases. Note the trailing stems and showy flowers.

FLOWER: April–July. Large, bell-shaped flowers have 3 lilac to whitish petals, each 1 1/4–1 3/8-inch long (3–4 cm) with a large, yellow band around the base. The band surrounds a rounded, orange gland with short hairs above a small purple basal spot; the 6 anthers are narrow with sharp points. Fruit is an erect, 3-angled capsule.

LEAVES: Basal may wither by flowering; alternate on stem. Blades linear, 4–8 inches long (10–20 cm) x 1/4-inch wide (7 mm); much reduced in size up the stem.

HABITAT: Sandy, gravelly, dry soils; ridges, foothills, flats; desert grasslands, creosote bush scrub, sagebrush scrub.

ELEVATION: 4,000–5,600 feet.

RANGE: AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, UT.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The similar C. ambiguous, in a similar range and habitat in western NM, is erect with whitish to pale-lavender petals, often with a maroon band.

NM COUNTIES: In far nw and sw corners of New Mexico in low- to mid-elevation, dry habitats; Grant, Hidalgo, San Juan.