Round Leafed Phacelia, Roundleaf Phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia
Color: White to pale yellow
Common name: Round Leafed Phacelia, Roundleaf Phacelia
Latin name: Phacelia rotundifolia
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Height: 1.5–11 inches
Description: Phacelia rotundifolia is an annual herb growing decumbent to erect, up to 28 centimeters tall. It is glandular and coated in short, stiff hairs which cause a poison ivy-like dermatitis. The hairy inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long and white to purple in color with a pale yellow throat.
Leaf: The leaves are conspicuously rounded and have scalloped edges or dull teeth. The round leaf blade is borne on a stalk.
Range: White and Inyo Mountains, Desert
Habitat: Rocky slopes, crevices, ledges, creosote-bush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Notes: Photographed May 15, 2010 in Titus Canyon, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California. Phacelia rotundifolia is a dicot that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Distribution outside California: to sw Utah, Arizona.
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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