Phacelia cicutaria

Phacelia cicutaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	(unplaced)
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, southern Nevada, and Baja California. It grows mainly in chaparral, frequently in burnt areas^[1] or on rocky slopes.

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 lavender in color.

Cultivation

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

Notes

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

References

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

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment

[1] Dale 1986, pg. 124

[2] Jepson Manual 1993

[3] Baskin 2002

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