27. Inflorescence dense; ovary generally > distal internode ......(leading to) C. speciosa spp. nitens 27' Inflorescence open; ovary generally < distal internode......(leading to) C. speciosa spp. polyantha

Although the somewhat dense inflorescence here suggested subspecies nitens to me, that subspecies is described to have ''petals...lavender to deep wine-red often shading to white or pale yellow at base''. I see very liitle white at the base of the petals...and certainly no yellow...so I'm not confident of that determination. The location here is within the range of both subspecies. The nearest record currently on CalFlora does not indicate subspecies, most other nearby records refer to ssp. polyantha (e.g. this one), with one referring to ssp. speciosa (which the Jepson eFlora indicates has range = South Coast Ranges). So I'm leaving subspecies unspecified here.