Desert Bluebells, Desertbells, Desert Bells
Phacelia campanularia ssp. vasiformis
Color: Blue to purple
Common name: Desert Bluebells, Desertbells, Desert Bells
Latin name: Phacelia campanularia ssp. vasiformis
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Height: 7-21.5 inches
Description: The broadly funnel-shaped flowers have 25-40 mm corollas and spread from coiled clusters.
Leaf: Leaves are oblong or egg-shaped 3/4-3 inch are coarsely toothed. The upper leaves are smaller than the lower.
Range: Mojave Desert, n Sonoran Desert
Habitat: Open, sandy or gravelly areas
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Flowering time: Mar–May
Notes: A similar-looking subspecies also called Desert Bells, Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia, grows in the western Sonoran Desert. Phacelia campanularia ssp. vasiformis, a dicot, is an annual herb that is native to California and is endemic (limited) to California alone. Phacelias can cause dermatitis. This photo was taken on February 16, 2008 Riverside 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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The Desert Environment
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