Phacelia humilis
Encyclopedia
Phacelia humilis, with the common name Low phacelia, is a species of phacelia
. It is native to the Western United States
, from central Washington to central California
, where it grows in mountain and foothill habitat.
is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped purple flowers. Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long and surrounded by a calyx of sepal
s which are coated densely in long, straight, white hairs.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a genus of about 200 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, native to North and South America....
. It is native to the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
, from central Washington to central 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 grows in mountain and foothill habitat.
Varieties
- Phacelia humilis var. humilis - most instances of this plant are this variety
- Phacelia humilis var. dudleyi - is known only from the southern Sierra Nevada and adjacent Tehachapi MountainsTehachapi MountainsThe Tehachapi Mountains , regionally also called The Tehachapis, are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States...
of California.
Description
It is an annual herb with an erect stem growing up to 20 centimeters tall. It is glandular and coated in stiff hairs. The oval leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long. The 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 purple flowers. Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long and surrounded by a calyx of sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s which are coated densely in long, straight, white hairs.