Prosartes Trachycarpa, Roughfruit Fairybells

Prosartes trachycarpa inhabits moist, shady places in forests, at a wide range of elevations. Leaves are large in relation to the flowers, up to 4.5 inches long, and broad, crossed by between 7 and 9 lengthwise veins. Leaves are shiny and hairless on top, while the margins and lower surfaces may have a few flattened hairs. Leaf tips taper to a point. The top of the stem tends to arch downwards at flowering time. Stems may branch in a few places.

The pendent flowers are produced at the tip of the stem, usually in a pair, less often singly or a triplet. They have a bell-shaped corolla formed of six creamy-white tepals, spreading or recurved at the tips, and around half an inch in length. The six stamens are exserted some way beyond the tepals; they have relatively long, yellow anthers and whitish filaments. The stamens surround a greenish pistil, topped by a small stigma, usually three-lobed. Fruits are spherical red berries, about half an inch in diameter.