Phacelia exilis
Encyclopedia
Phacelia exilis is a species of phacelia
known by the common names Transverse Range phacelia and lavender windows. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from the southern Sierra Nevada and the Transverse Ranges
. It grows in mountain and foothill habitat such as slopes and meadows.
The Phacelia exilis plant is similar to Phacelia mohavensis
and was considered a variety of that species until 1988, when it was separated on the basis of consistent morphological
differences and named a distinct species.
is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is under a centimeter long and is pale lavender in color.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a genus of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, native to North and South America....
known by the common names Transverse Range phacelia and lavender windows. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known from the southern Sierra Nevada and the Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
. It grows in mountain and foothill habitat such as slopes and meadows.
The Phacelia exilis plant is similar to Phacelia mohavensis
Phacelia mohavensis
Phacelia mohavensis is a species of phacelia known by the common name Mojave phacelia. It is endemic to southern California, where it is mostly limted to the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains...
and was considered a variety of that species until 1988, when it was separated on the basis of consistent morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
differences and named a distinct species.
Description
Phacelia exilis is an annual herb growing decumbent or erect up to 25 centimeters in maximum height. It is glandular and hairy in texture. The leaves are lance-shaped and smooth-edged, measuring 1 to 3.5 centimeters in length. The hairy inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is under a centimeter long and is pale lavender in color.