Pedicellate Phacelia, Specter Phacelia
Phacelia pedicellata
Color: Lavender to purple
Common name: Pedicellate Phacelia, Specter Phacelia
Latin name: Phacelia pedicellata
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Height: 12–50 cm
Description: Phacelia pedicellata is an annual herb growing a mostly erect stem up to 50 centimeters long. It is glandular and coated in stiff hairs, which, like those of many other Phacelia, cause dermatitis when touched. The hairy, glandular inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long and may be pink to blue in color.
Leaf: The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long with rounded or oval blades, the largest divided into 3 to 7 leaflets.
Range: Desert
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly washes, canyons
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Flowering time: Mar–May
Notes: Photographed Feb 25, 2005 in the Mojave Desert, north of Daggett, San Bernardino County. Phacelia pedicellata is a dicot that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.
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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What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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