Key to Gilia

View taxon page for Gilia

(For a list of species in Gilia, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Flowers generally in heads or clusters of > 8

2. Heads hemispheric; corolla throat > tube; stamens exceeded by to reaching corolla 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

..... G. achilleifolia subsp. achilleifolia

2' Heads spheric; corolla throat <= tube; stamens reaching or exceeding corolla lobes ..... G. capitata

3. Corolla 5–8 mm (7–11 in subsp. tomentosa), lobes 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

or narrowly 

oblong 

Longer than wide, with nearly parallel sides; wider than linear.

; calyx lobes 

acute 

Having a short-tapered, sharp tip, the sides convex or straight and converging at less than a right angle.

, 

erect 

Upright; vertically oriented.

or ± 

recurved 

Gradually curved downward or backward.

4. Base of heads 

tomentose 

Covered with densely interwoven, generally matted hairs.

5. Corolla pale blue-violet to white; heads 12–25 mm wide; n&c SN ..... subsp. mediomontana

5' Corolla bright blue-violet; heads 20–35 mm wide; NCo, se NCoRI, n CCo ..... subsp. tomentosa

4' Base of heads glabrous, glandular, or sparsely tufted-woolly-hairy, but not tomentose

6. Calyx membranes white; corolla lobes < 1 mm wide; seeds generally 1–6 ..... subsp. capitata

6' Calyx membranes blue-violet; corolla lobes 1–2 mm wide; seeds (3)6–25 ..... subsp. pacifica

3' Corolla 7–13 mm, lobes oblong; calyx lobes 

acuminate 

Having a long-tapered, sharp tip, the sides concave.

, recurved

7. Base of heads glabrous, sparsely tufted-woolly-hairy, not tomentose; 

pedicels 

Stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence, or the corresponding structure in fruit.

1–2 mm; especially s California ..... subsp. abrotanifolia

7' Base of heads densely tomentose; pedicels 0; especially n&c CA

8. Corolla bright blue-violet; plant with skunk-like odor ..... subsp. chamissonis

8' Corolla pale blue-violet; plant lacking skunk-like odor

9. Inflorescence 10–20 mm wide; corolla lobes ± 2 mm wide ..... subsp. pedemontana

9' Inflorescence 20–30 mm wide; corolla lobes ± 3 mm wide ..... subsp. staminea

1' Flowers not in heads, if clustered at ends of branches then generally <= 8

10. Basal leaves, lower stem with white, sharply bent, acute-tipped hairs ..... G. stellata

10' Basal leaves, lower stem glabrous or hairy, but not with white, sharply bent, acute-tipped hairs

11. Cauline leaves (particularly mid- to upper leaves) clasping or expanded at base

12. Corolla 9–35 mm, 2–7 × calyx

13. Stem tufted-woolly-hairy below middle

14. Corolla 10–20 mm, throat widely 

tapered 

Gradually (not abruptly) narrower or smaller at base or tip.

(widely V-shaped); fruit ± = calyx ..... G. brecciarum subsp. neglecta (2)

14' Corolla 18–35 mm, throat narrowly tapered; fruit > calyx

15. Corolla tube stout, throat > 7 mm wide, corolla generally 3 × lobes ..... G. latiflora subsp. davyi (2)

15' Corolla tube slender, throat < 7 mm wide, corolla 4–6 × lobes ..... G. latiflora subsp. elongata

13' Stem glabrous, glaucous below middle

16. Pedicels elongate in fruit but not in flower; corolla purple from base to mid-throat or higher ..... G. latiflora subsp. davyi (2)

16' Pedicels elongate in flower; corolla purple from base to base of throat

17. Calyx 2–4 mm; corolla 9–16 mm ..... G. latiflora subsp. cuyamensis

17' Calyx 4–5 mm; corolla 15–22 mm ..... G. latiflora subsp. latiflora

12' Corolla 5–12 mm, 1–2 × calyx

18. Stem below middle glabrous, glaucous; upper leaves generally not deeply toothed

19. Stamens, style reaching corolla 

lobe 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

middle; pollen blue ..... G. diegensis

19' Stamens, style reaching corolla lobe base; pollen white ..... G. sinuata

18' Stem below middle green, not glaucous, ± to densely tufted-woolly-hairy; upper leaves generally deeply toothed

20. Basal leaves strap-shaped, 1-pinnate-lobed, lobes < 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 axis; corolla throat yellow, midveins occasionally purple ..... G. modocensis

20' Basal leaves not strap-shaped, 2-pinnate-lobed, lobes > leaf axis; corolla throat purple or distally yellow, purple-veined

21. Branches 

decumbent 

lying mostly flat on the ground but with tips curving up.

; throat generally purple ..... G. jacens (2)

21' Branches 

spreading 

Oriented more or less perpendicularly to the axis of attachment; often, more or less horizontal.

to ± erect; throat yellow with purple veins ..... G. brecciarum subsp. brecciarum (2)

11' Cauline leaves not clasping or expanded at base

22. Calyx glabrous or hairy, nonglandular

23. Stamens reaching or exceeding corolla lobes

24. Corolla 4.5–5.5(8) mm, lobes white, fading light bluish ..... G. mexicana

24' Corolla 6–15 mm, lobes lavender to bright pink-lavender

25. Basal leaves densely tufted-woolly-hairy; calyx membranes generally dull purple-spotted (colorless), flat; SNH, w MP, nw SNE (Mono Co.) ..... G. salticola

25' Basal leaves glabrous or ± tufted-woolly-hairy; calyx membranes bright purple or purple-spotted, inflated-puckered or keeled; s SN, n SnGb, n SnBr, DMoj ..... G. aliquanta

26. Corolla lobes = tube + throat ..... subsp. aliquanta

26' Corolla lobes generally 1/2 tube + throat ..... subsp. breviloba

23' Stamens exceeded by corolla lobes

27. Corolla throat with purple spots

28. Corolla throat 

funnel-shaped 

Widening from the base more or less gradually through the throat into an ascending, spreading, or recurved limb; often applied to a fused calyx or corolla.

; lobes 3–5 mm wide; style 

included 

Not protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens included in corolla).

or ± 

exserted 

Protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens exserted from corolla).

..... G. clivorum (2)

28' Corolla throat widely bell-shaped; lobes 5–14 mm wide; style exserted ..... G. tricolor

29. Flower generally in open clusters; 

pedicel 

Stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence, or the corresponding structure in fruit.

15–35 mm; corolla 7–13 mm ..... subsp. diffusa (2)

29' Flowers generally in dense clusters; pedicel 1–5 mm; corolla 10–19 mm ..... subsp. tricolor

27' Corolla throat without purple spots

30. Basal leaves glabrous to sparsely short-hairy

31. Corolla tube white, throat, lobes white to lavender; pedicel 1–30 mm ..... G. achilleifolia subsp. multicaulis (2)

31' Corolla tube white, throat yellow, lobes white to lavender; pedicels 2–3 mm ..... G. angelensis

30' Basal leaves tufted-woolly-hairy at least on central veins and in axils

32. Basal leaf lobes spreading; corolla throat yellow or white with 5 yellow spots at base

33. Corolla 4–7 mm; throat yellow-spotted, <= lobes; calyx lobes short-pointed ..... G. clokeyi

33' Corolla 7–12 mm; throat yellow, >= lobes; calyx lobes acuminate ..... G. ophthalmoides

32' Basal leaf lobes generally 

ascending 

Curving or angling upward from base, or about 30-60 degrees less than vertical or away from axis of attachment.

; corolla throat yellow proximally, blue distally ..... G. ochroleuca

34. Stem glabrous, glaucous below inflorescence

35. Corolla 8–14 mm; style > stamens ..... subsp. bizonata

35' Corolla 4–6 mm; style <= stamens ..... subsp. ochroleuca

34' Stem generally tufted-woolly-hairy or glandular below inflorescence (if glabrous, not glaucous)

36. Lower branches suberect; 

basal 

At or near the base of a plant or plant part. Especially said of leaves clustered near the ground or of a placenta confined to the base of an ovary.

leaves 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

to generally 1-pinnate-lobed; corolla tube white, generally purple-streaked, throat yellow proximally, blue distally, lobes blue (entire corolla ± yellow); SCo, SnGb, s SnBr, PR, w D ..... subsp. exilis

36' Lower branches spreading; basal leaves 2–3-pinnate-lobed; corolla tube purple, throat yellow proximally, deep violet distally, lobes deep violet; Teh, SnGb ..... subsp. vivida

22' Calyx glandular-hairy, occasionally also long-shaggy- or tufted-woolly-hairy

37. Corolla tube purple, throat purple to mid-throat or beyond, or throat with purple spots or stripes distally

38. Leaf dissection ± irregular, lobes not linear; cauline leaf axis wide, terminal lobe wider than lateral; calyx densely fine-black-glandular

39. Stamens, style, stigmas exserted; corolla 9–20 mm, lobes 3–5.7 mm ..... G. brecciarum subsp. neglecta (2)

39' Stamens, style, stigmas included or ± exserted; corolla 5–11 mm, lobes 1.8–3.5 mm

40. Branches spreading to ± erect; throat yellow with purple veins ..... G. brecciarum subsp. brecciarum (2)

40' Branches decumbent; throat generally purple ..... G. jacens (2)

38' Leaf dissection regular, lobes linear; cauline leaf axis narrow, terminal lobe not wider than lateral; calyx not densely fine-black-glandular

41. Corolla throat with 2 purple spots below each lobe

42. Pedicel 10–40 mm; corolla 7–13 mm, throat widely bell-shaped, yellow or orange proximally, lobes 3–6 mm wide; style exserted ..... G. tricolor subsp. diffusa (2)

42' Pedicel 1–10 mm; corolla 6–11 mm, throat funnel-shaped, pale yellow proximally, lobes 3–5 mm wide; style included or ± exserted

43. Stem sparsely tufted-woolly-hairy to long-shaggy-hairy, sparsely but not densely glandular; fruit 3–4.8 mm; calyx 5–6 mm in fruit; corolla 6–8 mm ..... G. clivorum (2)

43' Stem densely glandular; fruit 7–9 mm; calyx 8–11 mm in fruit; corolla 8–11 mm ..... G. millefoliata

41' Corolla throat purple-marked but without 2 spots below each lobe

44. Corolla 11.5–22 mm ..... G. tenuiflora

45. Corolla lobes 4–6 mm wide; throat 3.7–5 mm wide at top

46. Corolla tube + throat 6.7–11 mm; fruit 5–8 mm ..... subsp. amplifaucalis

46' Corolla tube + throat 13–14.5 mm; fruit 6.5–7.5 mm ..... subsp. hoffmannii

45' Corolla lobes 2.1–4.2 mm wide; throat 1.5–3.4(3.8) mm wide at top

47. Longest stamens exserted; stigmas exceeding anthers ..... subsp. tenuiflora

47' Longest stamens ± exserted; stigmas among or only slightly exceeding anthers

48. Stem, cauline leaves densely glandular-hairy; corolla tube moderately exserted from calyx ..... subsp. arenaria

48' Proximal stem, cauline leaves not glandular-hairy; corolla tube long-exserted from calyx ..... subsp. docmilleri

44' Corolla 4–11.3 mm

49. Corolla throat purple to above middle, or purple at base and yellow above with purple along veins; flowers 1–2 per 

bract 

Reduced, leaf- or scale-like structure subtending a branch, cone scale, peduncle, pedicel, or flower.

50. Basal leaf lobes 0.9–1.5 mm wide; calyx 2.5–4.2 mm, membranes ± keeled; corolla 6–10.7 mm ..... G. malior (2)

50' Basal leaf lobes 0.6–0.9 mm wide; calyx 2–3.2 mm, membranes not keeled; corolla 4–8 mm ..... G. minor (2)

49' Corolla throat yellow, with 1 purple spot at base of lobes; flowers 1–5 per bract

51. Stamens equal in length, reaching corolla throat top ..... G. minor (2)

51' Stamens unequal in length, exserted

52. Calyx 2–2.5 mm; corolla lobes 1.4–2.8 mm ..... G. austro-occidentalis (2)

52' Calyx 2.6–4.6 mm; corolla lobes 1.6–5 mm

53. Fruit oblong-ovoid; corolla lobes 1.6–2 mm ..... G. inconspicua (2)

53' Fruit narrowly ovoid; corolla lobes (2)3–5 mm ..... G. interior (2)

37' Corolla tube purple or white, throat without purple (lavender)

54. Style reaching no farther than corolla lobe middle, stigma when receptive among anthers

55. Basal leaves glabrous, sparsely tufted-woolly-hairy, or long-shaggy-glandular-hairy, but not densely tufted-woolly-hairy

56. Fruit 6–8 mm, narrowly ovoid; ChI ..... G. nevinii

56' Fruit 3–6 mm, ovoid to spheric; mainland

57. Corolla tube white, throat, lobes lavender to white; s NCoRI (Solano Co.), SnFrB, SCoR ..... G. achilleifolia subsp. multicaulis (2)

57' Corolla tube purple, throat yellow, lobes lavender to pink; s SNE, e DMoj, DSon ..... G. scopulorum

55' Basal leaves densely tufted-woolly-hairy, at least on midvein

58. Longest stamens exceeding corolla lobe middle

59. Leaf lobes ascending; corolla lobes 1.6–2 mm; GB ..... G. inconspicua (2)

59' Leaf lobes spreading; corolla lobes (2)3–5.5 mm; s SNF, Teh, WTR ..... G. interior (2)

58' Longest stamens exceeded by to reaching corolla lobe middle

60. Branches decumbent; corolla without spots, lobe tips 

obtuse 

Having a short-tapered, blunt tip or base, the sides convex or straight and converging at more than a right angle.

..... G. malior (2)

60' Branches spreading to erect; corolla with purple spots below lobes, lobe tips acute

61. Basal leaf lobes 1–6 mm; corolla tube purple; fruit 3–4 mm ..... G. austro-occidentalis (2)

61' Basal leaf lobes 3–11 mm; corolla tube red- or maroon-streaked; fruit 5–6 mm ..... G. transmontana

54' Style exceeding corolla lobes, stigma when receptive above anthers

62. Corolla 7–8.5 mm, white to pale lavender or blue ..... G. yorkii

62' Corolla 9–32 mm, tube, throat, lobes of different colors

63. Longest stamens generally exceeding corolla lobes; corolla throat yellow or white ..... G. leptantha

64. Corolla tube 2–4 × calyx

65. Corolla lobes 1–3 mm wide; SnBr ..... subsp. leptantha

65' Corolla lobes 3–5 mm wide; s SN ..... subsp. purpusii

64' Corolla tube < 2 × calyx

66. Corolla throat obconic; longest stamens exceeding corolla lobes ..... subsp. pinetorum

66' Corolla throat cup-shaped; longest stamens exceeded by corolla lobes ..... subsp. transversa

63' Longest stamens exceeded by corolla lobes; corolla throat blue distally, yellow proximally ..... G. cana

67. Adjacent pedicels spreading, shorter pedicel > 1/2 longer

68. Corolla throat conic, tube 2–4 × calyx ..... subsp. speciformis

68' Corolla throat cup-shaped, tube generally < 2 × calyx ..... subsp. triceps

67' Adjacent pedicels ascending, shorter pedicel < 1/2 longer

69. Fruit narrowly ovoid, generally < 5 mm; basal leaves generally tufted-woolly-hairy-matted ..... subsp. cana

69' Fruit widely ovoid, 5–9 mm; basal leaves tufted-woolly-hairy, not matted

70. Corolla tube = throat; stamens unequal, longest exserted ..... subsp. bernardina

70' Corolla tube 3–6 × throat; stamens equal, ± exserted ..... subsp. speciosa

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