Phacelia hastata
Encyclopedia
Phacelia hastata is a species of phacelia
known by the common name silverleaf phacelia. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
to Nebraska
, where it can be found in many habitat types, including flat scrublands, mountain forests, and alpine
talus
.
, which is made up of a few to a great many one-sided coiling "scorpioid" cymes of flowers (see image at top left). Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long, generally bell-shaped, and whitish to pale purplish in color. It has five protruding stamen
s and a calyx of narrow, hairy sepal
s.
There are about four subtaxa.
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 name silverleaf phacelia. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
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...
to Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, where it can be found in many habitat types, including flat scrublands, mountain forests, and alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
talus
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
.
Description
Phacelia hastata is a perennial herb variable in appearance. It produces a hairy stem which grows decumbent or erect to a maximum height near half a meter. The leaves are lance-shaped or oval, smooth-edged, lobed, or divided into leaflets. They are hairy, prominently veined, and generally low on the plant. The top of the stem is occupied by 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...
, which is made up of a few to a great many one-sided coiling "scorpioid" cymes of flowers (see image at top left). Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long, generally bell-shaped, and whitish to pale purplish in color. It has five protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and a calyx of narrow, hairy 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.
There are about four subtaxa.
- Charleston phacelia, var. charlestonensis, is endemic to southern NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. - Timberline phacelia, var. compacta, grows in the mountains at 7000 to 13,000ft, and is usually under 10" tall.