Perennial unpleasant-smelling herb from a bulb. Leaves 8-20, basal, linear, waxy blue above. Inflorescence to 80 cm. Flowers numerous, cup-shaped, to 4 cm wide; late spring to early summer. Tepals pale blue, not twisting together at withering.

North-eastern Oregon, USA

 

C. leichtlinii (Baker.) S.Wats. from western coastal North America is a perennial herb from a bulb. Leaves 4-6, basal, linear. Inflorescence to 1.3 m. Flowers numerous, cup-shaped, to 6 cm wide; late spring early summer.Tepals creamy white, blue or violet, twisting together at withering. C. 'Alba' Flowers white. C. 'Semiplena' Flowers semi-double and white or creamy yellow.

C. quamash (Pursch) Greene, Quamash, from western North America is a perennial herb from a bulb. Leaves 5-6, basal, linear, sometimes waxy blue above. Inflorescence to 80 cm. Flowers numerous, cup-shaped, to 4 cm wide, usually bilaterally symmetrical by one tepal bending backwards; late spring-early summer. Tepals white, pale blue or deep violet-blue, sometimes twisting together at withering.

Source: Forster, P. (2005). Bowiea. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.