Leontochir ovallei, or garra de leon ('lion's paw'), grows in the
coast range of north central Chile. I've seen the typical red form
and have seen photos of the yellow form taken by a hotelkeeper who
photographs a lot of wildflowers of his area. The plant is rare
primarily because it is palatable and likely to be eaten by domestic
goats and also by guanacos. I think the survivors are usually on
steep rock walls (where I found it) or clambering up through dense
shrubs. I also saw it in cultivation at the botanic garden in
Valparaiso, where they were growing it under glass with their cactus
collection.
It is indeed very arid where it grows most years, and probably it
gets its moisture mostly from the coastal fog (camanchaca) and from
moisture deep in the rocks. In fact, near where I saw it in rocks, I
also found Adiantum chilense, a maidenhair fern, which was amazing to
see in that apparently barren, dry setting.
The part of Chile where it grows is probably more like Baja
California than San Diego but for growing it in the USA, San Diego
might be a good bet. It does need very good drainage, and the rock
where it grows is volcanic or mudstones.
In the center of the large, colorful flower are very large nectaries
dripping with nectar, like cabochon gems. The leaves seem mostly to
be yellowing when it flowers, as is also the case with some
Alstroemeria species.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA