Gilia angelensis V. Grant Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family) Native Grassland Gilia Los Angeles Gilia

                                         February Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Erect annual, 0.7-7 dm. high, usually with spreading branches; stems glabrous or floccose below, sometimes glandular above; lower lvs. unipinnately or bipinnately dissected, 2-5 cm. long, the ultimate segms. +/- falcate, 5-15 mm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. wide, the axils of the lvs. floccose; infl. cymose, the heads usually ca. 5-fld., several, on naked peduncles 1-5 cm. long; pedicels 2-3 mm. long; calyx 3-4 mm. long, mostly floccose, the lobes acute, the cent. part green, the margins hyaline, 0.1- 0.3 mm. wide at sinus; corolla campanulate, 7-8 mm. long, the limb blue-violet to white, the tube pale yellow, the lobes ovate, 2-3 mm. wide; fils. ca. 1 mm. long; caps. ovoid, dehiscent, 20-30 seeded; seeds 0.5-1 mm. long.

Habitat:  Loose, often sandy or gravelly soil, below 6300 ft.; Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, Yellow Pine F.; cismontane to Santa Barbara Co. and n., and s. to L. Calif., Catalina Id.  March-May.

Name:  The genus was named for Filippo Luigi Gilli (1756-1821) who collaborated on a botanical work with the Spaniard Caspar Xuarez.  Angelensis, of Los Angeles (County).  (Dale 154).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, found only on a bench above and northerly of the 23rd St. study area.  In early April 1993, this species was found on the sandy bench below Eastbluff's northerly end.  (my comment).      There are many lovely wildflowers in the genus Gilia. G. angelensis is pale and slight, and G. capitata with powder blue flowers in a head occurs in masses only after fires.  (Dale 154)

Text Ref:  Dale 153; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 647; Roberts 32.

Photo Ref:  Feb-Mar 88 # 5; Dec-April 92,93 # 18.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

Computer Ref: Plant Data 368.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/29/03.

                                              March Photo