Phacelia distans
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Common phacelia (Phacelia distans) is an annual herb that blooms in the spring. It is also known by the common names blue phacelia and wild scorpionweed, since the clusters of flowers are composed of pale lavender to violet-blue individual flowers arranged in a coil that resembles a curled scorpion’s tail.
Common phacelia is native to southwestern US and northern Mexico, and can be found in many plant communities. In San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve it is found in open or disturbed areas along the trails.
Other Common Names:
Blue phacelia, distant phacelia, wild scorpionweed, distant scorpionweed, wild heliotrope.
Description 2,4,23,59
Common phacelia is an annual herb with sprawling to erect reddish stems 6 to 30 inches (15 – 75 cm) long. The entire plant is coated with stiff hairs that are often glandular and sticky-tipped. Leaves alternate on the stem. They are usually 4 to 6 inches (10 – 15 cm) long, deeply divided, resembling the leaves of ferns.
Individual flowers of common phacelia are pale lavender to violet-blue with five roundpetalsandstamensthat extend slightly beyond the petals. Flowers are produced along a coiled stalk (a “scorpioid cyme”) with developing buds in the center of the coil. As the stalk unfurls, new flowers open at the base of the coil while seedpods develop along the older stalk, often giving the stalk the look of a caterpillar. Petals are deciduous.
Fruitsare spherical, 5/64 to 1/8 in (2 – 3 mm) in diameter, on 3/64 to 1/8 in (1- 3 mm) stalks.
Common phacelia blooms from February to June.1
Flowers in scorpioid cymes | Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Deeply divided, fern-like leaves | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Distribution 67,89,
Common phacelia is native to southwestern US and northern Mexico,112 but it has also been found in other states, such as Nevada,2Rhode Island, Massachusetts114and Wisconsin.113
It can be distributed in many plant communities, including woodlands, coastal sage scrub and chaparral, grasslands, meadows,7 and deserts.110, 115
In The Reserve, it is found in open areas or among exotic grasses along the south side of the Central and East Basins.
Classification 2,59
Common phacelia is a dicot angiosperm in the borage family (Boraginaceae). 2Plants in the borage family are coated by small, stiff hairs, and have flowers that are often located along a coiled stalk. Species ofPhaceliawere previously placed in the waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae), based on similar morphological characteristics. Subsequently, the availability of molecular data led to several reinterpretations of these plants including the merging of the waterleaf family into the borage family. This is the system currently used by Jepson,2the authority for this Plant Guide. In 2016, the Boraginales Working Group reevaluated the borage complex and recommended a separate waterleaf family.422Many botanists have accepted this revision andPhaceliais found listed in the Hydrophyllaceae in both oldest and more recent literature. Research into the relationships between the two groups is continuing and the systematics may still be evolving.
Perhaps the best known members of this family are the ornamental forget-me-not, and borage, an annual herb native to Central and Eastern Europe that is used in soups and salads.41
The family Boraginaceae contains approximately 120 genera and 2,300 species. Plants in this family are coated by small, stiff hairs, and have flowers that are often located along a coiled stalk.2
Other plants in the borage family that are found in the Reserve includefiesta flower(Pholistoma auritum),coast fiddleneck(Amsinkia menziesii) andpopcorn flower(Cryptanthaintermedia).48
The genusPhaceliacontains approximately 210 annual and perennial species mostly with blue to purple flowers with stamens that project beyond the corolla.2Other species ofPhaceliathat have been reported from the Reserve arebranching phacelia(P. ramosissima), giant flowered phacelia(P. grandiflora)and caterpillar phacelia(P. cicutariassp.hispida).48
Alternate Scientific Names:
Phacelia cinerea, Phacelia leptostachya
Blue-purple flowers with stamens that extend beyond petals | Photo credit: Barbara Wallace | May 2009
Photo credit: Barbara Wallace | May 2009
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Ecology
Common phacelia attracts native bees, honey bees and butterfly adults. Therefore, it has been considered for enhancing pollinator habitat.109
Santa Carina | April 2010
Santa Carina | April 2010
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Human Uses
The Kawaiisu, a Native American group from southeastern California, gathered and steamed the leaves and stems of common and branching phacelia (Phacelia distans, and P. ramosissima, respectively) during the spring, and they ate them as greens.75
Other species of phacelia were also used as vegetables by other Native American tribes. The Cherokee ate the leaves of P. dubia, and the Navajo and Kayenta, the leaves of P. heterophylla.107
Rios trailhead | April 2010
Santa Carina | April 2010
Rios trailhead | April 2014
Interesting Facts
The name Phacelia comes from the Greek word “phakelos”, which means bundle, referring to the clusters of flowers typical of the species of this genus.21
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Denise Stillinger | April 2008
Photo Gallery
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Barbara Wallace | May 2009
Collars protect young plants from grazers; revegetation site | Santa Carina trailhead | December 2017
Photo credit: Denise Stillinger | April 2007
Photo credit: Barbara Wallace | May 2009
Rios trailhead | March 2008
Rios trailhead | April 2010
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Photo credit: Denise Stillinger | April 2008
Rios trailhead | April 2010
Santa Carina | April 2010
Rios trailhead | April 2014
Santa Carina | April 2010
Santa Carina | April 2010
Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Deeply divided, fern-like leaves | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Flowers in scorpioid cymes | Photo credit: Lea Corkidi | Rios trailhead | April 2014
Blue-purple flowers with stamens that extend beyond petals | Photo credit: Barbara Wallace | May 2009
