Scientific Family
Polemoniaceae
Other common names
rock gily-flower
Rocky Mountain gilia
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6 to 12 inches
Riparian
No
Leaves somewhat wider than many other gilia species, irregularly divided into broad lobes; lobe tips taper to a sharp point; leaf bottoms and stems covered with translucent, glandular hairs.
Hairy and glandular throughout; flowering branches erect or ascending, floral tube, white, yellow or pale purple often 2 to 3 times longer than the expanded lobes (throat) of the flower.
Habitat
Dry, rocky desert slopes.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
2500
Flower Characteristics
Sepals 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, slightly grainy; lobes needle-shaped; corolla funnel-shaped, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; pink to pale purple tube 2 to 3 times as long as sepal; yellow throat; lobes pink to pale purple.
Flower color
White, yellow, pink or pale purple
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Lower leaves 1 to 3-1/2 inches long, 1/4 to 3/4 inch broad, coarsely toothed; lobes divided, short hairy stems; upper leaves stemless, shorter, with fewer divisions; leaves are hairy glandular as are the stems.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Egg-shaped capsule, not quite globe shaped, about 1/4 inch long, opening when ripe from top to bottom between 3 valves.
Fruit type
Capsule