BLUE GILIA (Gilia capitata, Dougl.). Flowers blue, rather 

 small, in crowded head-like clusters, stamens conspicuously 

 exserted, an inch across or more, terminating long naked stalks. 

 Leaves finely divided into numerous, very slender or even 

 thread-like segments. A slender annual, a foot or so high, 

 blooming in the spring in the Coast Ranges from Central Cali- 

 fornia to Oregon. 



There are two Pacific Coast species nearly related, that are 

 known as Blue Gilia. The other, which closely resembles 

 Gilia capitata, is Gilia achillecefolia, Benth., which means the 

 "Yarrow-leaved Gilia." It is a rather stouter plant, the blue 

 or lavender flower clusters larger and less compact, sometimes 

 2 inches across. It is abundant in the Yosemite region, and 

 southward in the foothills to Southern California where it will 

 be found in flower from April to June. Both species are old 

 favorites in gardens. 



The name Gilia was given in honor of a Spanish botanist, 

 Philip Gil, and is usually pronounced jil'ia, though some 

 botanists call it heel'-ia in conformity with the Spanish pro- 

 nunciation of the name which it commemorates. 



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