About Phacelia stellaris Brand
Phacelia stellaris Brand is an annual herb that grows a spreading, branching stem up to roughly 25 centimeters long, with a lightly hairy texture. Its leaves range from lance-shaped to oval, with lobed edges, and are sometimes divided into smaller leaflets. The hairy inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme that holds bell-shaped flowers, each approximately half a centimeter long. These five-lobed flowers are pale blue or purple in color. This species is native to coastal sage scrub and beach dunes along the coast of southern California and Baja California, and it is only known from a small number of occurrences. Its conservation status is uncertain, because most of its recorded localities are in areas that have since been disturbed or degraded within this heavily developed coastal region. Confirmed populations exist around San Diego and along the Santa Ana River. The plant is currently a candidate for federal protection as a threatened or endangered species in the United States.
