Phacelia neglecta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phacelia neglecta |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phacelia
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| Species: |
neglecta
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Phacelia neglecta is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family, which is also known as Boraginaceae. People often call this plant the alkali phacelia or neglected scorpionweed.
This plant grows naturally in the deserts of the southwestern United States. You can find it in states like Nevada, Arizona, and southeastern California. It likes to grow in different desert areas, even places where the soil is salty or "alkali." It might also grow further south in Baja California, Mexico.
Meet the Alkali Phacelia
The alkali phacelia is a small plant that lives for only one year. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, makes new seeds, and then dies all within a single year. It usually stands upright and can grow up to about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. Its stem often does not have many branches.
What Does It Look Like?
The plant's stem is covered with fine, sticky hairs. These hairs are called glandular hairs because they can produce a sticky substance. Most of the leaves grow around the bottom of the stem. These leaves have round blades with crinkly or wavy edges. They are attached to the stem by stalks called petioles, which can be a few centimeters long.
Its Flowers and How They Grow
The flowers of the alkali phacelia grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is also hairy and sticky. It usually curves or coils to one side, like a scorpion's tail. Each flower is shaped like a funnel or a bell. They are about half a centimeter long and can be white or cream-colored.
