Notch-leaved phacelia ( phacelia crenulata ) is a lovely little purple wild flower which grows across the desert southwest from California to Texas. The plant is typically between three to twenty-four inches in height. The flower is also known by several different names including, notch-leaf scorpion-weed, notch-leaved phacelia, cleftleaf wildheliotrope, and heliotrope phacelia.
The plant is covered in glandular, stiff little hairs which can cause contact dermatitis or skin rashes for those who come in contact with it. These flowers are found at elevations up to 7,000 feet. Notch-leaved phacelia can be found in Creosote-Bursage Flats and Juniper woodlands in dry, well drained soil. This trait is common with many wild flowers across the deserts found in the south west.
The plant will grow from a central stalk and then branch to form several flower stalks. The small purple flowers are bell shaped and grow in a single row along one side of each flower stalk. The flowers are known to range from blue to purple in color and may be rather foul smelling. The stamen and pistil of the flower protrude quite some distance from the petals.
The leaves of phacelia crenulata are oblong and way in appearance and typically between two and twelve centimeters in length.