Loasa Acanthifolia

From Chile comes this handsome but curious plant bearing dark green, lobed, acanthus-like leaves. In summer, highly attractive bright orange-yellow, concave-petalled flowers open, each an inch or so across. But take care! This is one of the surprise plants of the Chilean woodlands as my legs discovered on our last Andean expedition. The entire plant, including the flowers, is covered with fine stinging hairs, just like a stinging nettle. Grazing animals keep away!