Scientific Family
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Gilia inconspicua
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6 to 12 inches
Riparian
No
This very slender gilia has the typical gilia basal rosette of leaves with tiny flowers. Because it is so slender, it can easily go unnoticed.
Lower flower throat bright yellow, the expanded petal pale pink or white. Calyx lobes acuminate (gradually tapering to a sharp point and forming concave sides along the tip); corolla more than 3/16 inch long.
Habitat
Open, rocky soil; seemingly likes inhospitable, barren, hot ground. Pinyon/juniper woodland, semi-desert, foothills.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
3200
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
The flower with both its tube and petals, is much longer than the calyx (red striped surface surrounding the base of the flower). The flower tube is much longer than the petals.
Flower color
White, pink, blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems with many branches from near the base. Stems hairy toward the base, less so above. Leaves mostly in basal rosette; densely tufted-woolly-hairy. It is common for plants to lose their hairs as the plant ages.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No