Phacelia inundata
Playa phacelia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Phacelia inundata (Playa phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by alkaline habitat and yellow flowers distinctive.
Playa phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the Modoc Plateau in alkaline flats and dry lake margins at elevations of 1,300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces yellow flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long with a narrowly bell-shaped corolla. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with spreading to erect stems that are branched at the base and covered in short, stiff hairs, it has a distinctive glandular appearance. Its leaves are 10 to 30 millimeters long, with proximal leaves crowded and deeply lobed, featuring oblong to narrowly ovate blades with rounded segments. The fruit is oblong, 4 to 7 millimeters long and slightly fuzzy, containing 5 to 30 small cross-striate seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; alkaline habitat and yellow flowers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, dry lake margins
Elevation: 1300-2000 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Phacelia inundata blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Nemophila: Phacelia has flowers in coiled scorpion-tail clusters; Nemophila has solitary showy flowers at leaf axils.; vs Eucrypta: Phacelia is typically non-sticky with seeds that fall out cleanly; Eucrypta feels very sticky and retains 1-2 seeds in fruit.; vs Pholistoma: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters; Pholistoma has flowers scattered along stems with backward-pointing stem bristles.; vs Echium: Phacelia has coiled clusters of small flowers; Echium has large showy blue-purple flowers in tall spike-like clusters.; vs Gilia: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and bristly foliage; Gilia has flowers in round heads or loose clusters with smoother foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phacelia inundata native to California?
Yes. Phacelia inundata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia inundata bloom?
Phacelia inundata blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Phacelia inundata belong to?
Phacelia inundata is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia inundata rare or endangered?
Phacelia inundata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Phacelia inundata grow in?
Phacelia inundata grows in Alkaline flats, dry lake margins.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.