Parish's Phacelia
(Phacelia parishii )
Hydrophyllaceae

Photo Copyright Margaret Williams, Courtesy of Nevada Native Plant Society

Description: Annual herb. Stems 2 - 6 inches (5-15mm) long with very small hairs, and branched at the base. Leaves oblong to obovate shape, generally with smooth edges or barely toothed, 3/8 - 1 1/8 inches (1-3cm) long, and mostly basal. Inflorescence is a cyme with many short, stalked flowers. Flowers are bell-shaped with lavender petals, yellowish at the base of the tube, and 1/4 inch (5-6mm) long. Fruit is an oblong capsule, 1/8 - 1/4 inch (3-5mm) long, with small, coarse hairs. Capsules contain 20-40 seeds, each about 1mm long.

Distribution:

Habitat: Clay or alkaline places, dry lake margins, creosote bush scrub, and Mojave desert. Elevation 1728 - 3840 feet.

Flowering Period: Blooms April - July.

Similar Plants:

Status: BLM Sensitive, California Native Plant Society List 1B