Phacelia ramosissima  Dougl. Ex Lehm. var. austrolitoralis Munz                                                                 Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family)                                                          Native   Beach Phacelia

                                           April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial, with few to several branching stems 5-10 or more dm. long, stems below infl. not glandular, hairs coarse, long, stiff, spreading, bulb based; lvs. 5-15 cm. long, pinnate with oblong, crenate to serrate divisions up to 2.5 cm. wide; calyx-lobes oblanceolate, 6-7 mm. long; corolla dirty-white to bluish, campanulate, 6-8 mm. long stamens glabrous, exserted; style glabrous, exserted; caps 3-4 mm. long pubescent; seeds usually 2 or 4, deeply pitted, 2-3 mm. long.

Habitat:  Coastal Strand; Santa Barbara Co. to L. Calif. May-August.

Name: Greek, phakelos, a cluster, because of the crowded flowers.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 502). Latin, ramus, a branch and Latin, issimus, superlative suffix denoting very much, most. (Jaeger 130, 217).  Ramosissima, much branched.  Latin, australis, southern and Latin, litoralis, belonging to the seashore.  (Jaeger 31, 143).  Austrolitoralis, of the southern coast.

General:  The 1993 Jepson Manual has changed the characteristics of the varieties of P. ramosissima and added var. latifolia. Most upper bay plants formerly classified as var. austrolitoralis were moved to var. latifolia. The major difference between the two varieties is that var. austrolitoralis is not glandular below the infl. There is an excellent drawing of the various stem hairs in the Jepson Manual. (my comments).

Text Ref: Munz, Flora So. Calif. 516; Hickman Ed.

Photo Ref: April-June 03 # 1,2,12.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found:  April 2003

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 540.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 12/26/04.

                                  May Photo                                                                          April Photo