4. Phacelia hirsuta Nutt.

Pl. 429 e, f; Map 1919

Plants relatively slender annuals. Stems 10–45 cm long, unbranched or few- to several-branched at the base and above, mostly strongly ascending from a sometimes spreading base, densely pubescent with stiff, spreading, nonglandular hairs, also with moderate to dense, fine, somewhat tangled, nonglandular hairs toward the tip. Basal leaves usually withered at flowering, the blade 1–3 cm long, elliptic to oblong in outline, pinnately compound or deeply lobed with 5–9 pinnae or lobes, these entire or occasionally with 1 or 2 lobes or coarse teeth (the terminal leaflet or lobe usually 3-lobed), the leaflets or lobes sharply to bluntly pointed or rounded at the tips, the surfaces moderately to densely pubescent with more or less appressed, stiff hairs. Stem leaves short-petiolate to sessile and usually clasping, the blade 0.8–5.0 cm long, progressively reduced toward the stem tip, the uppermost leaf blades usually 5 or 7-lobed, the leaflets or lobes bluntly to sharply pointed at the tips, the terminal lobe of at least the uppermost leaf (immediately below the lowermost flower) truncate to somewhat angled or tapered at the base, the pubescence similar to that of the basal leaves. Inflorescences with 8–30 flowers, the axis and flower stalks pubescent with dense, short, ascending to appressed hairs and moderate to dense, longer, stiff, spreading hairs, the stalks ascending to spreading at fruiting. Calyces 4–9 mm long, the lobes with the margins and surfaces pubescent with longer and shorter hairs. Corollas 5–8 mm long, broadly bell-shaped, purple to bluish purple, often with a pale lower portion and sometimes also darker-spotted, the margins entire or minutely and inconspicuously toothed or scalloped, the outer surface finely hairy, especially along the midvein and toward the tip. Stamens not or very slightly exserted, the filaments 4–6 mm long, densely hairy for most of their length. Ovary with mostly 8 ovules. Style branched to less than or about the midpoint. Fruits 3–4 mm long, the surface not appearing swollen, mostly 6–8-seeded. Seeds 1.5–2.0 mm long, ovoid-angled, finely ridged and/or pitted, dark brown. 2n=18. April–June.

Scattered in the Ozark Division north locally to Barton, Benton, Boone, and Macon Counties (Missouri and Kansas south to Louisiana and Texas). Bottomland forests, mesic upland forests, banks of streams and rivers, margins of fens, bases and ledges of bluffs, thin-soil areas of upland prairies, sand prairies, and glades; also pastures, ditches, railroads, roadsides, and open disturbed areas.

Rare white-flowered plants from southwestern Missouri have been called f. albiflora E.J. Palmer & Steyerm. For a discussion of possible relationships with P. gilioides, see the treatment of that species.