209 Species of Genus Phacelia

Phacelia: A Love Affair with the Scorpionweed

I, Ferb Vu, have always been drawn to the subtle beauty of wildflowers. There’s a certain charm to their unassuming nature, their ability to thrive in the most unexpected places. Among my favorites is the genus Phacelia, commonly known as scorpionweed or heliotrope. These plants, with their delicate blooms and fascinating forms, have captivated me for years.

A Diverse Genus

Phacelia is a large genus, boasting over 200 species. They are primarily annual or perennial herbaceous plants, belonging to the borage family (Boraginaceae). While they are native to North and South America, California holds a special place in their distribution, harboring over 90 species. This diversity is truly remarkable, with each species exhibiting unique characteristics that make them stand out.

  1. Phacelia adenophora J.T.Howell
  2. Phacelia affinis A.Gray
  3. Phacelia alba Rydb.
  4. Phacelia altotonga B.L.Turner
  5. Phacelia amabilis Constance
  6. Phacelia anelsonii J.F.Macbr.
  7. Phacelia argentea A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
  8. Phacelia argillacea N.D.Atwood
  9. Phacelia argylensis N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh
  10. Phacelia arizonica A.Gray
  11. Phacelia artemisioides Griseb.
  12. Phacelia austromontana J.T.Howell
  13. Phacelia austrotexana (J.A.Moyer) B.L.Turner
  14. Phacelia bakeri (Brand) J.F.Macbr.
  15. Phacelia barnebyana J.T.Howell
  16. Phacelia beatleyae Reveal & Constance
  17. Phacelia bicolor Torr. ex S.Watson
  18. Phacelia bipinnatifida Michx.
  19. Phacelia bolanderi A.Gray
  20. Phacelia bombycina Wooton & Standl.
  21. Phacelia brachyantha Benth.
  22. Phacelia brachyloba (Benth.) A.Gray
  23. Phacelia breweri A.Gray
  24. Phacelia buell-vivariensis N.D.Atwood
  25. Phacelia californica Cham.
  26. Phacelia calthifolia Brand
  27. Phacelia campanularia A.Gray
  28. Phacelia capitata Kruckeb.
  29. Phacelia carmenensis B.L.Turner
  30. Phacelia cedrosensis Rose
  31. Phacelia cephalotes A.Gray
  32. Phacelia cicutaria Greene
  33. Phacelia ciliata Benth.
  34. Phacelia cliffordii N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh
  35. Phacelia cloudcroftensis N.D.Atwood
  36. Phacelia coerulea Greene
  37. Phacelia congdonii Greene
  38. Phacelia congesta Hook.
  39. Phacelia constancei N.D.Atwood
  40. Phacelia cookei Constance & Heckard
  41. Phacelia corrugata A.Nelson
  42. Phacelia corymbosa Jeps.
  43. Phacelia cottamii N.D.Atwood
  44. Phacelia coulteri Greenm.
  45. Phacelia covillei S.Watson
  46. Phacelia crenulata Torr. ex S.Watson
  47. Phacelia cronquistiana S.L.Welsh
  48. Phacelia cryptantha Greene
  49. Phacelia cumingii (Benth.) A.Gray
  50. Phacelia curvipes Torr. ex S.Watson
  51. Phacelia dalesiana J.T.Howell
  52. Phacelia damnationensis Kierstead, Lindstrand & M.J.Lenz
  53. Phacelia davidsonii A.Gray
  54. Phacelia demissa A.Gray
  55. Phacelia denticulata Osterh.
  56. Phacelia deserta A.Nelson
  57. Phacelia distans Benth.
  58. Phacelia divaricata (Benth.) A.Gray
  59. Phacelia douglasii (Benth.) Torr.
  60. Phacelia dubia (L.) Trel.
  61. Phacelia egena (Brand) Greene ex C.F.Baker
  62. Phacelia eisenii Brandegee
  63. Phacelia exilis (A.Gray) G.J.Lee
  64. Phacelia filiae N.D.Atwood, F.J.Sm. & T.A.Knight
  65. Phacelia filiformis Brand
  66. Phacelia fimbriata Michx.
  67. Phacelia floribunda Greene
  68. Phacelia formosula Osterh.
  69. Phacelia franklinii (R.Br.) A.Gray
  70. Phacelia fremontii Torr.
  71. Phacelia furnissii N.D.Atwood
  72. Phacelia gentryi Constance
  73. Phacelia geraniifolia Brand
  74. Phacelia gilioides Brand
  75. Phacelia gina-glenneae N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh
  76. Phacelia glaberrima (Torr. ex S.Watson) J.T.Howell
  77. Phacelia glabra Nutt.
  78. Phacelia glandulifera Piper
  79. Phacelia glandulosa Nutt.
  80. Phacelia glechomifolia A.Gray
  81. Phacelia grandiflora (Benth.) A.Gray
  82. Phacelia greenei J.T.Howell
  83. Phacelia grisea A.Gray
  84. Phacelia gymnoclada Torr. ex S.Watson
  85. Phacelia gypsogenia I.M.Johnst.
  86. Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm.
  87. Phacelia heterophylla Pursh
  88. Phacelia higginsii N.D.Atwood
  89. Phacelia hintoniorum B.L.Turner
  90. Phacelia hirsuta Nutt.
  91. Phacelia hirtuosa A.Gray
  92. Phacelia howelliana N.D.Atwood
  93. Phacelia hubbyi (J.F.Macbr.) Garrison
  94. Phacelia hughesii N.D.Atwood
  95. Phacelia humilis Torr. & A.Gray
  96. Phacelia hydrophylloides Torr. ex A.Gray
  97. Phacelia idahoensis L.F.Hend.
  98. Phacelia imbricata Greene
  99. Phacelia incana Brand
  100. Phacelia inconspicua Greene
  101. Phacelia indecora J.T.Howell
  102. Phacelia infundibuliformis Torr.
  103. Phacelia insularis Munz
  104. Phacelia integrifolia Torr.
  105. Phacelia intermedia Wooton
  106. Phacelia inundata J.T.Howell
  107. Phacelia inyoensis (J.F.Macbr.) J.T.Howell
  108. Phacelia ivesiana Torr.
  109. Phacelia ixodes Kellogg
  110. Phacelia laxa Small
  111. Phacelia laxiflora J.T.Howell
  112. Phacelia leibergii Brand
  113. Phacelia lemmonii A.Gray
  114. Phacelia lenta Piper
  115. Phacelia leonis J.T.Howell
  116. Phacelia leptosepala Rydb.
  117. Phacelia linearis (Pursh) Holz.
  118. Phacelia longipes Torr. ex A.Gray
  119. Phacelia lutea (Hook. & Arn.) J.T.Howell
  120. Phacelia lyallii (A.Gray) Rydb.
  121. Phacelia lyonii A.Gray
  122. Phacelia maculata Alph.Wood
  123. Phacelia malvifolia Cham. & Schltdl.
  124. Phacelia mammillarensis N.D.Atwood
  125. Phacelia marcescens Eastw. ex J.F.Macbr.
  126. Phacelia marshall-johnstonii N.D.Atwood & Pinkava
  127. Phacelia minor (Harv.) Thell.
  128. Phacelia minutiflora J.W.Voss
  129. Phacelia minutissima L.F.Hend.
  130. Phacelia mohavensis A.Gray
  131. Phacelia mollis J.F.Macbr.
  132. Phacelia monoensis Halse
  133. Phacelia mustelina Coville
  134. Phacelia mutabilis Greene
  135. Phacelia namatostyla B.L.Rob.
  136. Phacelia nana Wedd.
  137. Phacelia nashiana Jeps.
  138. Phacelia neffii B.L.Turner
  139. Phacelia neglecta M.E.Jones
  140. Phacelia nemoralis Greene
  141. Phacelia neomexicana Thurb. ex Torr.
  142. Phacelia novenmillensis Munz
  143. Phacelia orbicularis Rydb.
  144. Phacelia orogenes Brand
  145. Phacelia pachyphylla A.Gray
  146. Phacelia pallida I.M.Johnst.
  147. Phacelia palmeri Torr. ex S.Watson
  148. Phacelia parishii A.Gray
  149. Phacelia parryi Torr.
  150. Phacelia patuliflora (Engelm. & A.Gray) A.Gray
  151. Phacelia pauciflora S.Watson
  152. Phacelia peckii J.T.Howell
  153. Phacelia pedicellata A.Gray
  154. Phacelia peirsoniana J.T.Howell
  155. Phacelia perityloides Coville
  156. Phacelia petrosa N.D.Atwood, F.J.Sm. & T.A.Knight
  157. Phacelia phacelioides (Benth.) Brand
  158. Phacelia phyllomanica A.Gray
  159. Phacelia pinkavae N.D.Atwood
  160. Phacelia pinnatifida Griseb. ex Wedd.
  161. Phacelia platycarpa (Cav.) Spreng.
  162. Phacelia platyloba A.Gray
  163. Phacelia popei Torr. & A.Gray
  164. Phacelia potosina B.L.Turner
  165. Phacelia pringlei A.Gray
  166. Phacelia procera A.Gray
  167. Phacelia pulchella A.Gray
  168. Phacelia pulcherrima Constance
  169. Phacelia purpusii Brandegee
  170. Phacelia purshii Buckley
  171. Phacelia quickii J.T.Howell
  172. Phacelia racemosa (Kellogg) A.Heller
  173. Phacelia rafaelensis N.D.Atwood
  174. Phacelia ramosissima Douglas ex Lehm.
  175. Phacelia ranunculacea (Nutt.) Constance
  176. Phacelia rattanii A.Gray
  177. Phacelia robusta (J.F.Macbr.) I.M.Johnst.
  178. Phacelia rotundifolia Torr. ex S.Watson
  179. Phacelia rupestris Greene
  180. Phacelia sabulonum (J.T.Howell) N.D.Atwood
  181. Phacelia salina (A.Nelson) J.T.Howell
  182. Phacelia sanzinii Hicken
  183. Phacelia saxicola A.Gray
  184. Phacelia scariosa Brandegee
  185. Phacelia scopulina (A.Nelson) J.T.Howell
  186. Phacelia secunda J.F.Gmel.
  187. Phacelia sericea (Graham) A.Gray
  188. Phacelia serrata J.W.Voss
  189. Phacelia setigera Phil.
  190. Phacelia sinuata Phil.
  191. Phacelia sivinskii N.D.Atwood, P.J.Knight & Lowrey
  192. Phacelia sonoitensis S.P.McLaughlin
  193. Phacelia splendens Eastw.
  194. Phacelia stebbinsii Constance & Heckard
  195. Phacelia stellaris Brand
  196. Phacelia strictiflora (Engelm. & A.Gray) E.Hall
  197. Phacelia suaveolens Greene
  198. Phacelia suffrutescens Parry
  199. Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.
  200. Phacelia tetramera J.T.Howell
  201. Phacelia thermalis Greene
  202. Phacelia utahensis J.W.Voss
  203. Phacelia vallicola Congdon ex Brand
  204. Phacelia vallis-mortae J.W.Voss
  205. Phacelia verna Howell
  206. Phacelia viscida (Benth. ex Lindl.) Torr.
  207. Phacelia vossii N.D.Atwood
  208. Phacelia welshii N.D.Atwood
  209. Phacelia zaragozana B.L.Turner

Why I Admire Phacelia

My fascination with Phacelia stems from several factors. First and foremost, their aesthetic appeal is undeniable. The flowers, ranging from deep blues and purples to soft lavenders and whites, are often arranged in intricate clusters, creating a mesmerizing display. The delicate petals and intricate stamens add to their allure, making them a favorite subject for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Beyond their beauty, Phacelia plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. They are excellent pollinators, attracting a wide range of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Their presence in a garden or natural landscape can significantly enhance biodiversity. Some species, like Phacelia tanacetifolia, are also used as cover crops to improve soil health and prevent erosion.

Furthermore, I am intrigued by the adaptability of Phacelia. They thrive in diverse habitats, from arid deserts and rocky slopes to meadows and woodlands. This resilience is a testament to their evolutionary success and makes them an interesting subject for ecological research.

My Experiences with Phacelia

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of encountering various Phacelia species in their natural habitats. I recall a memorable hike in the California hills, where I stumbled upon a field of Phacelia campanularia in full bloom. The sight of those vibrant bluebells carpeting the landscape was simply breathtaking.

I have also cultivated Phacelia in my own garden, enjoying the process of observing their growth and development. The satisfaction of seeing them bloom, attracting a myriad of pollinators, is truly rewarding.

Conclusion

Phacelia, the unassuming scorpionweed, holds a special place in my heart. Its diversity, beauty, and ecological importance make it a fascinating genus worthy of admiration. Whether I am encountering them in the wild or nurturing them in my garden, Phacelia never ceases to amaze me. I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate these often-overlooked wildflowers and the vital role they play in our natural world.

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