[Phacelias of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Silverleaf Phacelia, Silver-leaf Phacelia, Whiteleaf Phacelia
Phacelia hastata var. hastata
Synonyms: Phacelia hastata var. alpina, Phacelia hastata var. leptosepala, Phacelia hastata var. leucophylla, Phacelia leptosepala, Phacelia leucophylla var. leucophylla, Phacelia leucophylla var. suksdorffii
Silverleaf phacelia as seen on weedy, sandy soils at Horsethief Butte in the eastern Colubmia River Gorge..........May 10, 2009.
Notice how this species has numerous stems ascending from the base of the plant, and that many of them are about equal in height. The similar variedleaf phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla) typically has one to several erect stems, generally with the middle one higher than the others. Variedleaf phacelia also typically has one to several pairs of lobes at base of the leaf blade.
Characteristics:
Silver-leaf phacelia is a perennial with a taproot and one to
several prostrate to more or less erect stems from 50-100 cm high. The stems
and leaves are covered with fine, short, silvery hairs. Any bristles that may
be present are mostly ascending or appressed except in the inflorescence. The
leaves are simple with prominent pinnate venation and the margins are usually
entire, although some leaves may have a pair of small lateral lobes at the base
of the blade. The basal leaves are numerous and tufted and narrowly to broadly
elliptic in shape tapering to long petioles. The stem leaves are reduced in
size and become sessile on the upper stems.
The inflorescence is usually short and compact, although it
may occasionally be longer and thinner. The corolla 4-7 mm long and wide and
is a dull white to lavender or dull purple in coloration. The filaments are
conspicuously longer than the corolla lobes.
Habitat:
Silver-leaf phacelia may be found in dry rocky to sandy locations
at all elevations.
Range:
Silver-leaf phacelia may be found from southern
British Columbia east to Alberta and south to California, Colorado, and western
Nebraska.
In the Columbia River Gorge, variety hastata
may be found from about Wind Mt. east to the eastern end of the gorge between
the elevations of 100'-3000'. Variety compacta
may be found between the elevations of 2600'-3600' in the mid-gorge.
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The stem leaves and budding inflorescence at left of silverleaf phacelia as seen on sandy soils at Horsethief Butte in the eastern Colubmia River Gorge.............May 10, 2009.
The photo at right shows the lower leaves of silverleaf phacelia as seen on Rowland Rim at the west side of Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.....November 9, 2023.
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A large cluster of basal leaves and a few emerging stems of silverleaf phacelia (left) as seen on sandy soils at Horsethief Butte in the eastern Colubmia River Gorge.............May 10, 2009. The photo at right shows a basal leaf cluster of silverleaf phacelia as seen on sandy soils at the southeast side of Horsethief Butte, Columbia Hills State Park.........January 18, 2016..
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Silverleaf phacelia beginning to bloom at left at a Wasco County rock quarry along Sevenmile Road several miles to the northwest of The Dalles, Oregon..........April 20, 2014. The photo at right shows what may be the seedlings of silverleaf phacelia observed on steep grassy slopes adjacent to Ferry Springs, Deschutes River State Recreation Area.....December 5, 2021.
Paul Slichter