Phacelia hastata

Scientific Name: Phacelia hastata Dougl. ex Lehm.
Family Name: Waterleaf (Hydrophyllaceae)
Common Name: silverleaf phacelia

Morphological Characteristics:
Habit - native perennial forb, suberect to prostrate, several stems (white-woolly in color) from a branched, woody rootstock, plant mostly over 15 cm (6 in.) tall, up to 50 cm (20 in.) in height.
Leaves - alternate and entire, a pair of small lobes at the base of blade often present, prominently veined, covered with silky, silvery-white hairs, upper leaves smaller.
Flower - curled to coiled, snail-shell shaped cyme, appears bristly as a result of extended stamens, petals fused into a five-lobed "funnel", typically dull white or lavender.
Fruit - capsule.

Blooming: late spring to early summer and seed matures in mid- to late-August.

Distribution & Habitat: widespread, seldom very conspicuous, open, dry plains and valleys, often in sandier places; look for large, robust communities on harsh sites; * 5 varieties identified that exist in our area - form varies from low and prostrate, to tall and erect.

Line drawing from Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, 1959. C. L. Hitchcock, et al.

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Last Modified: 06/15/2005