Phacelia cicutaria

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Caterpillar Phacelia

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Phacelia
Species: P. cicutaria
Binomial name
Phacelia cicutaria
Greene
Subspecies

P. cicutaria var. cicutaria
P. cicutaria var. hispida (Gray) J.T. Howell
P. cicutaria var. hubbyi

Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia or Caterpillar Scorpionweed) is an annual species of Phacelia native to California and southern Nevada. It grows mainly in chaparral, frequently in burnt areas[1] or on rocky slopes.

Contents

[edit] Habit

Phacelia cicutaria is an upright annual shrub growing up to than 0.6 m (2') high. Its foliage is deeply lobed, 2-15 cm. (1-6") long, with spiked segments[2]. The flower buds are held in tight, hairy coils which uncoil as the flowers open one by one. The flowering stems' resemblance of caterpillars lends this plant its common name. Flowers appear Mar-May and are dirty-white to pale lavendar in color.

[edit] Cultivation

Phacelia cicutaria is drought tolerant, making it ideal for xeriscaping. It can be propagated by seed, germination of which may be stimulated by the presence of charred wood aqueous extracts of it[3].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Dale 1986, pg. 124
  2. ^ Jepson Manual 1993
  3. ^ Baskin 2002

[edit] References

  1. Dale, Nancy; Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Capra Press, 1986
  2. Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of container Phacelia cicutaria Greene plants
  3. Jepson Manual, University of California, 1993

[edit] External links