Annual to 14 inches tall; stems branched throughout; leaves cobwebby with soft hairs below, covered with glands above.
Stems, leaves sparsely or densely cobwebby; flowers in branching, elongated clusters, white to light purple, throats light blue, 5 pointed petals unite into a tube, tube length usually <2x throat width, styles slightly protruding, anthers blue to purple.
Habitat
Found on limestone soils, in open sites, shrublands, rocky slopes, sandy washes, and woodland communities.
Flower Characteristics
Petals with 5 open, spreading, pointed lobes unite into tube equal in length to sepals; light blue throats and yellow spots at base; blue to purple anthers; flowers borne on paired, spreading, unequal, thread-like stalks of 1 to 2 at branch tips.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal and alternate, becoming reduced above basal rosette; basal blades have 1 to 2 pinnate lobes (equal on both sides), lobes short-pointed, spreading; upper blades palmate (growing from single point), the middle lobe widest; surfaces grayish-green.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Round to ovoid capsules to 1/4 inch long, the tips pointed, valves detaching at base.
Seeds 9 to 24, yellow to brown and gelatinous when wet.