Taxon Report

Phacelia insularis Munz var. continentis J.T. Howell

North Coast phacelia

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Taxon Summary

Phacelia insularis var. continentis, commonly known as North Coast phacelia, is a annual herb in the Hydrophyllaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal bluff scrub, and Coastal dunes, growing at elevations from 10 to 170 meters. Phacelia insularis var. continentis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Phacelia insularis Munz var. continentis J.T. Howell
Common Name:	North Coast phacelia
Family:	Hydrophyllaceae
Element Code:	PDHYD0C2B1
USDA Plants Symbol:	PHINC2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-May	Mar-May
Elevation:	10-170 (35-560)
General Habitats:	Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal dunes
Microhabitat:	Rocky (sometimes), Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_UCBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	15
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	5
Fair (C)	4
Poor (D)	2
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	4

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Marin (MRN), Mendocino (MEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Drakes Bay (3812218), Fort Bragg (3912347), Inglenook (3912357), Inverness (3812217), Mendocino (3912337), Tomales (3812228)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	8
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	12	80 %
Non-native plant impacts	9	60%
Foot traffic/trampling	7	46%
Grazing	2	13%
Development	2	13%
Erosion/runoff	2	13%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	13%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	13%
Other	1	6%

Notes



Known from fewer than twenty occurrences. Threatened by foot traffic, non-native plants, and grazing. See American Midland Naturalist 33:474 (1945) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 November 2025].