Scientific Family
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Gilia gunnisonii
Other common names
sanddune skyrocket
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Ipomopsis pumila
Height
Up to 1 foot
Riparian
No
Annual up to 1 foot tall, simple to branched; stems smooth or with short glandular hairs, flowers congested in terminal heads.
Weakly developed basal leaves and narrow, alternate stem leaves, lower leaves with 1 to 2 teeth; often glandular; flowers usually white, can be purplish or blue, tubular with 5 long and narrow lobes, stamens protrude, in head-like clusters.
Habitat
Sandy soils, dry slopes, shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodland.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Low elevation
3600
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers short stalked, often white, sometimes purplish; flower tube about 1/4 inch long is within the leaf-like bracts that are below the flower, topped by 5 flared lobes which alternate with protruding stamens; tightly clustered in terminal heads.
Flower color
White, purplish, blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves narrow; smooth to sparsely short hairs; margins usually smooth, lower leaves with 1 to 2 teeth; weakly developed basal leaves are often withered by flowering time.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Capsule 1/8 inch long.
Fruit type
Capsule
1 to 2 seeds per chamber.