Keckiella cordifolia has heart-shaped leaves. This is reflected in the species name, cordifolia, or heart leaf. The name Keckiella honors David D. Keck (1903- ). He and Philip A. Munz authored a major treatise entitled A California Flora in 1959. This species can grow to a height of three meters. Its open drooping habit often gives it an ungainly appearance. The deep red flowers are borne in compact terminal clusters. The stalk or pedicel of each flower can sometimes be twisted on the long arching branches in a way that makes for an upside-down orientation. This inversion created by twisting of the pedicel is called resupinate.
DISTRIBUTION: In forest and chaparral from the southern outer South Coast Ranges to SW Calif.; < 1200 m.
