Alkali Phacelia

Phacelia neglecta

Color: White to cream

Common name: Alkali Phacelia

Latin name: Phacelia neglecta

Family: BORAGINACEAE

Height: 1–8 inches

Description: Phacelia neglecta is a mostly erect annual herb producing a small mostly unbranched stem up to about 20 centimeters tall. It is coated thinly in glandular hairs. The hairy, glandular inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of funnel- or bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is about half a centimeter long and white to cream in color.

Leaf: The leaves, which are mostly arranged around the base of the stem, have crinkly or wavy-edged round blades on stalks a few centimeters long.

Range: Desert

Habitat: Clay or alkaline soils, flats, slopes

Elevation: <1000 m.

Flowering time: Mar–May

Notes: Phacelia neglecta is a dicot that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Like other Phacelia, this plant causes a poison ivy-like dermatitis. Distribution outside California: s Nevada, Arizona. This photo was made Mar 25, 2005, on Kelbaker Road, south of I-40 (San Bernardino County, California.

We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.

Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.

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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms