Phacelia cicutaria

Phacelia cicutaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
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, with the common names caterpillar phacelia or caterpillar scorpionweed, is an annual species of Phacelia.

It is native to California, southern Nevada, and Baja California. It grows mainly in chaparral habitats, frequently in burnt areas^[1] or on rocky slopes.

Phacelia cicutaria is an upright annual shrub growing up to 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 between March and May and are dirty-white to pale lavender in color.

Phacelia cicutaria is cultivated as an ornamental plant, in native plant and wildlife gardens, and for natural landscaping designs and habitat restoration projects. Its drought tolerance makes it well suited for water conserving gardens.

It can be propagated by seed, germination of which may be stimulated with aqueous extracts of charred wood, or the charred wood itself.^[3]

• 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phacelia cicutaria.

• Jepson Manual Treatment — Phacelia cicutaria
• Calflora database: Phacelia cicutaria
• Phacelia cicutaria — U.C. Photo gallery

This Hydrophylloideae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e