Crimson Starflower

This short flower grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Its olive or turquoise stem is very thin and straight with a curved tip, and the miniature, gray-green leaves are dark pink-red on the underside and are pleated with smooth edges. The leaves alternate on the stem.

A single medium-sized flower sits at the end of the stem. The flowers are 2 cm (0.8 inches) wide, with crimson petals that gradient shift to red on the outer edge. The central disk is yellow. The flower head is shaped like a star with 4 widely spaced, round-tipped petals. They are sturdy.

It has a powerful scent that smells like vomit, and it has very little pollen, but can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by insects and is visited by a large variety of them.