scorpionweeds

genus Phacelia

Member of borage family (family Boraginaceae)
borages (order Boraginales)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Caution: There are other wild species of this genus not yet included in this guide.
Caution: The key to distinguish these species is not complete.

Man, there are so many bay area scorpionweeds. Everything is potentially a key feature.

Key features:

woody taproot or branched caudex (perennial) or slender taproot (annual)
cauline leaves or only basal
leaflets toothed, lobed, entire, or 0 (basal, cauline, or distal)
number of leaflet lobes, shape of lobes
calyx lobe length, hairy or not
corolla color, size, shape
number and shape of seed

mountain phacelia
Phacelia imbricata

corolla white with a mix of white and brown filaments and anthers
leaf blade 5–15 cm, dissected (distal sometimes entire)

leaves mostly basal

distant phacelia
Phacelia distans

corolla pale purple, beige (cream with brown streaks), or white
corolla throat with dark purple spots below petals (except on pure white corolla)

shade phacelia
Phacelia nemoralis

corolla white with a mix of white and brown filaments and anthers

jepson thinks the corolla is green-white or yellow-white

if they mean white with a slight shading, it is plausible

leaf blade 4–15 cm

proximal-most leaves generally compound with 3–7 leaflets
distal-most leaves often entire

california phacelia
Phacelia californica

corolla purple to pale purple (rarely white)
leaf blade 5–20 cm

generally compound (sometimes dissected) with 3–7 leaflets
mostly basal
distal-most leaves often entire

stinging phacelia
Phacelia malvifolia

leaves, stems, calyx lobes with long stiff hairs

other phacelia have similar hairs, so the distinction may be difficult to perceive

leaf 2–14 cm including petiole

proximal leaves lobed to compound with 3 segments which are also toothed or irregularly lobed
distal leaves generally toothed or lobed

5 observed taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 32 (13 are research grade)

Locations:

Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 4
Henry Coe SP: 4
Ed R. Levin CP: 3
Santa Teresa CP: 3
Castle Rock SP: 2
Murray Ranch SP: 2
Sanborn CP: 2
Wunderlich CP: 2
Almaden Quicksilver CP
Big Basin SP
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP - Fall Creek Unit
Máyyan 'Ooyákma Coyote Ridge OSP
Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park
Sibley Volcanic RP
Sierra Vista OSP
Skyline Ridge OSP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area

Months:

Apr.: 6
May: 7
Jun.: 10
Jul.: 7
Aug.: 2

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Not all sites include this taxon:

genus Phacelia → iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora
not yet listed → FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora