Native to montane and subtropical regions of Central America, this rhizomatous herb grows in moist, shaded understories and disturbed forest edges, often forming dense groundcover along slopes or trails. It thrives in elevations between 3,000 and 7,000 feet, typically in cloud forests where humidity remains high and temperatures moderate. The flower consists of five broad, slightly overlapping petals forming a funnel shape with a gradient from deep purple at the tips to a whitish throat that often shows faint yellow. The outer parts of the plant are covered in fine hairs, especially on the calyx and sepals. The plant spreads through scaly, tuber-like rhizomes that allow for dormancy during dry periods. Photographed in Panama.