About Phacelia brachyloba (Benth.) A.Gray
Phacelia brachyloba, commonly called shortlobe phacelia, is a species of phacelia. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal mountains, canyons, and valleys. It is classified as a fire follower, meaning it emerges in areas that have recently burned. This species is an annual herb that grows erect, reaching a maximum height of about 60 centimeters. The plant is hairy and glandular. Its leaves are lance-shaped, and may be lobed or divided into lobed leaflets. The inflorescence is hairy, glandular, and forms a one-sided curving or coiling cyme that holds many funnel- or bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is up to one centimeter wide, with a lavender, pink, or white corolla and a yellow throat. Reports note that the glandular hairs on the stems, flowers, and leaves of Phacelia brachyloba secrete oil droplets that can cause contact dermatitis, an unpleasant skin rash, in some people.
