XPhacelia crenulata - Notch-leaved PhaceliaX
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Notch-leaved Phacelia -or- Cleft-leaf wild heliotrope -or- Notch-leaf Scorpion-weed, (Phacelia crenulata), family Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf)
Phacelia crenulata is sometimes placed in the BORAGINACEAE family but is most commonly still showing it's relationship with Hydrophyllaceae. Per WIKIPEDIA is this: "Hydrophylloideae is a subfamily of the Boraginaceae family of flowering plants. Their taxonomic position is somewhat uncertain. Traditionally, and under the Cronquist system, they were given family rank under the name Hydrophyllaceae, and treated as part of the order Solanales. More recent systems have recognised their close relationship to the borage family, Boraginaceae, initially by placing Hydrophyllaceae and Boraginaceae together in an order Boraginales, and most recently by demoting Hydrophyllaceae to a subfamily of Boraginaceae. However the placement and circumscription of Boraginaceae is still uncertain: it is unplaced at order level, and there is some prospect of it being split up again in future." End quote.
There are 3 main varieties of crenulata: crenulata, ambigua, and minutiflora. As with other Phacelias the species causes contact skin irritation.
USES: Per the wonderful Native American Ethnobotany are the following ways native americans used crenulata and the var. corrugata: HOPI Plant used for injury in animals, especially horses - crenulata and var. corrugata. KERES Infusion of root used as a rub for swellings. Infusion of plant used for sore throat.
Flower -
Plant location: Death Valley - California - February 18-23, 2017
Distribution in the United States: AZ , CA , CO , NM , NV , TX , UTPlant -
Bloom season: March through May, typically.
Habitats include: Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland, and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland.Foliage -
Death Valley - California - February 18-23, 2017
Another flower view -
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Death Valley - California - February 18-23, 2017
Stem macro -
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Death Valley - California - February 18-23, 2017
Basal foliage shot close to the plant's stem base and close to the ground. Note the more blunt edges, with less distinct notches developed. -
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Death Valley - California - February 23, 2017
As the plant's blooms mature they take on the characteristic they are nick-named for ... whiptail, and scorpion tail. -
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