Phacelia campanularia

Phacelia campanularia

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: (unplaced)
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Phacelia
Species: P. campanularia
Binomial name
Phacelia campanularia
A.Gray

Phacelia campanularia is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae, known by the common names desertbells,[1] desert bluebells,[2] California-bluebell,[3] desert scorpionweed,[4] and desert Canturbury bells.[5] Its true native range is within the borders of California,[2][6][4] in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, but it is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant and it can be found growing elsewhere[7] as an introduced species.

Description

This annual herb has an erect stem reaching 0.7 metres (2.3 ft) in maximum height. It is covered in glandular hairs. The leaf blades are somewhat rounded with toothed edges. The inflorescence is a loose cyme of flowers. The flower has a bright blue corolla up to 4 centimeters long which can be bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, or round and flattened. It can have white spots in the throat. The protruding stamens and style can be 4.5 centimeters long. The fruit is a capsule up to 1.5 centimeters long.[8]

Taxonomy

Two subtaxa are usually recognized, called subspecies[2] or varieties.[8] They can intergrade in some areas.[8]

Chemistry

The anthocyanin pigment phacelianin was isolated from the flowers of this species and is involved in the formation of their blue color. It is also responsible for the blue of the flowers of Evolvulus pilosus.[9]

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phacelia campanularia.
Wikispecies has information related to: Phacelia campanularia

References

  1. "Phacelia campanularia". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Phacelia campanularia. Calflora.
  3. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. 1 2 Phacelia campanularia. NatureServe. 2012.
  5. Phacelia campanularia. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. University of Texas at Austin.
  6. Phacelia campanularia. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
  7. Phacelia campanularia. USDA PLANTS.
  8. 1 2 3 Phacelia campanularia. The Jepson Manual.
  9. Mori, M., et al. (2006). Structure of anthocyanin from the blue petals of Phacelia campanularia and its blue flower color development. Phytochemistry 67(6), 622-29.

External links

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