Phacelia mustelina
Death valley round-leaved phacelia, Death Valley Round-Leaved Phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Phacelia mustelina (Death valley round-leaved phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by round leaves and bicolored flowers diagnostic.
Death valley round-leaved phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the desert mountains in gravelly or rocky slopes, creosote-bush scrub, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations below 2,100 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces violet to purple flowers with a yellow tube and lavender to purple throat, approximately 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 6 to 30 centimeters tall, it is many-branched and covered in short, stiff hairs with glandular surfaces. Its leaves are approximately 10 to 40 millimeters long, round-shaped with irregular teeth, and broadly spread along the stem. The small fruits are ovoid, 3 to 4 millimeters long, and contain 20 to 60 finely pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; round leaves and bicolored flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly or rocky slopes, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: < 2100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Phacelia mustelina blooms Mar-Jun.
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 mustelina native to California?
Yes. Phacelia mustelina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia mustelina bloom?
Phacelia mustelina blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia mustelina grow?
Phacelia mustelina occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of < 2100 m.
What plant family does Phacelia mustelina belong to?
Phacelia mustelina is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia mustelina rare or endangered?
Phacelia mustelina carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.