Descriptive Flora 



167 



bases, forming a saucer-shaped corolla, which is frosted, pale blue 

 shading into white toward the center. Stamens 5, small, never 

 yellow. Calyx of 2 circles of sepals, the small outer ones alter- 

 nating with the 5 larger inner ones. Leaves opposite or alter- 

 nate. Blades 2 to 4" long, the margin divided into 5 to 9 

 segments. April to fall. In shaded and moist ground. 



Pkacelm congest® Hook. Spider Flower. Caterpillars. 



Blue Curls. 



The phacelias coil their flower buds and stems like a snail 

 and uncoil them with blooming. Simple, straight, often coarse- 

 stemmed, leafy, hairy plants. Leaves simple, alternate. Blades 

 ragged-looking, 1 to 5" long, soft, deeply cut into small and large 

 toothed lobes. Flowers small, about %" across, bluish-purple, in 

 coiled clusters, the coils unfolding as the buds develop. Corolla 

 5-lobed, open bell-shaped. Stamens 5, conspicuous, spreading 

 out of the corolla fully y$ inch. April to July. Widespread. 

 Common. 



Marilaunidmm Jtispidum (A. Gray) Kuntze. Sand Bells. 



{Nanw Jtispidum A. Gray.) 



Rough-hairy, branched plants 6 to 10" high, with forking 

 stems and small, 5-lobed, violet or blue flowers blossoming a few 

 at a time in the leafy tips of the branches. Leaves simple, alter- 

 nate. Blades broadly linear to spatulate, y 2 to 2" long, hairy, 

 entire, acute. Calyx of 5 narrow bristly lobes about y± long. 

 Corolla 5-lobed, %" to y<£ across, usually yellow in the throat. 

 Stamens 5, small, included in the throat of the corolla. Corollas 

 fall off easily. March to summer. Common in the sandy region 

 to the south and east of San Antonio. 



Marilauniddum jamaicense (L.) Kuntze. Fiddle-leaves. 

 ( Nama jamaicense L.) 



Annual with branches 4 to 12 inches long spreading on the 

 ground, and spoon-shaped leafblades that continue along the 

 stem forming narrow wings. Leaves simple, alternate. Blades 



