Scientific Family
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Gilia intertexta, Navarretia intertexta var. intertexta, N. minima var. intertexta, N. intertexta ssp. propinqua
Other common names
needleleaf pincushion plant
interwoven navarretia
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Navarretia breweri, N. leucocephala
Height
To about 4 inches
Riparian
Yes
Annual, spreading, wider than tall or erect. Green leaves are divided into narrow spine-tipped spreading lobes. White to bluish-lavender funnel-like flowers grow at the stem tips within a dense head of needle-like hairy bracts resembling a pincushion.
Stems trailing to erect, simple to branched, reddish brown; leaves distinctly divided into 4 to 8 segments, mostly on stems, firm, prickly; flowers white to bluish-lavender (light purple), flowers solitary or in pairs at ends of stems, only 1 is stalked.
Habitat
Open, seasonally moist sites, pond and lake margins, vernal pools (shallow depressions that usually contain water for part of the year due to flooding of streams or rivers), meadows, pine forests and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
7500
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Funnel-shaped flower with 5 egg-shaped petals widens from a tube-like base ending in flared bloom about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. Flowers grow singly or in pairs at stem tips amidst dense, spreading, needle-like bracts which are often longer than the flowers.
Flower color
White to bluish-lavender
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
July
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems are often much-branched from the base. Leaves may be narrow and undivided but are usually deeply divided with 4 to 8 narrow segments that are spine-tipped often with shaggy white hairs at the leaf base. Leaves grow up to 1 inch long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule 1/16 to 1/8 inch long with 1 to 2 chambers each with 4 to 8 seeds. The mature fruit usually doesn't open to release seeds (indehiscent) but when wet it may gradually open to drop seeds (tardily dehiscent).
Fruit type
Capsule
The seed is dark brown with indentations on its surface (pitted) and becomes sticky when wet.