Phacelia pedicellata is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae. Its common names include specter phacelia and pedicellate phacelia.[1] It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California,[2] where it can be found in several types of habitat, including creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodland.[1]

Phacelia pedicellata

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Phacelia
Species:
P. pedicellata
Binomial name
Phacelia pedicellata

It is an annual herb growing a mostly erect stem up to 50 centimeters long. It is glandular and coated in stiff hairs, which, like those of many other phacelias, cause dermatitis when touched. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters long with rounded or oval blades, the largest divided into 3 to 7 leaflets. The hairy, glandular inflorescence is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is roughly half a centimeter long and may be pink to blue in color.

There are reports that glandular hairs of stems, flowers and leaves of P. pedicellata secrete oil droplets that can cause an unpleasant skin rash (contact dermatitis) in some people.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Phacelia pedicellata. Calflora.
  2. ^ Phacelia pedicellata. Jepson eFlora.
  3. ^ Munz, Phillip A (1932). "Dermatitis produced by Phalecia (Hydrophyllaceae)". Science. 74 (1965): 194–195. doi:10.1126/science.76.1965.194.a. PMID 17795320. S2CID 239784768. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
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