Caltha-leafed Phacelia, Calthaleaf Phacelia
Phacelia calthifolia
Color: Purple to violet
Common name: Calthaleaf Phacelia, Caltha-leafed Phacelia
Latin name: Phacelia calthifolia
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Height: 4-12 inches
Description: Phacelia calthifolia is an annual plant with bristly stems. The flowers are bell-shaped, about 1 cm diameter.
Leaf: The leaves are dark green, rounded to heart-shaped with a notched base, 1-3 cm long and wide, with an entire or serrated margin.
Range: n Mojave Desert
Habitat: Sandy soils, generally in creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Flowering time: Mar–May
Notes: Phacelia calthifolia is a dicot that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. It can cause dermatitis. Distribution outside California: w Nevada. This photo was taken on February 12, 2005 in Death Valley National Park, Inyo 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.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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