Utah Species Field Guide | Utah Natural Heritage Program
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Pavement Phacelia (Phacelia sabulonum)

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Photo by avalikesplants; avalikesplants; avalikesplants; zachcoury
Ava Brinkley; Ava Brinkley; Ava Brinkley; Zach Coury

Pavement Phacelia

Pavement Phacelia (Phacelia sabulonum)

Photo by avalikesplants; avalikesplants; avalikesplants; zachcoury
Ava Brinkley; Ava Brinkley; Ava Brinkley; Zach Coury

Phacelia sabulonum

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2

External links

General information

Phacelia sabulonum or Pavement Phacelia is an erect annual herb with broad violet flowers found in southeastern Utah in the Navajo Basin in tropic shale formations with shadescale, greasewood, and tamarix communities. This species is differentiated from similar members of the genus by its broad, crenate to dentate margined leaves, spreading stems, and large flowers producing large brown seeds. 

Diagnostic characteristics

Pavement Phacelia is distinguished from the similar Phacelia pulchella in having broader and more coarsely toothed leaves which have more crenate or dentate margins. Phacelia sabulonum also has spreading stems and larger flowers which produce fewer but also bigger seeds.

Species range

This species is endemic to Utah and can be found in Garfield and Kane counties. 

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Multicellular organisms that are autotrophic or make complex carbohydrates from basic constituents. Most use photosynthesis.

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in an ovary

Multicellular organisms that develop from the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. Heterotrophic - obtain food by ingestion.

Have skulls and backbones.

Cold blooded, lay eggs on land

Have feathers and lay eggs

Invertebrates with an exoskeleton, jointed appendages, and segmented bodies

Animals having 3 pair of legs, 3 body sections, generally 1 or 2 pair of wings, 1 pair of antennae.

Soft bodied animals with an internal or external shell and a toothed tongue or radula. Have a mantle that lines and secretes the shell and a muscular foot that allows for movement.

Two hinged lateral shells and a wedged shaped "foot". Bivalves lack tentacles and a head.


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