Taxon Report

Phacelia exilis (Gray) G.J. Lee

Transverse Range phacelia

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Phacelia exilis, commonly known as Transverse Range phacelia, is a annual herb in the Hydrophyllaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, Pebble (Pavement) plain, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1100 to 2700 meters. Phacelia exilis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Phacelia exilis (Gray) G.J. Lee
Common Name:	Transverse Range phacelia
Family:	Hydrophyllaceae
Element Code:	PDHYD0C4Y0
USDA Plants Symbol:	PHEX
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug	May-Aug
Elevation:	1100-2700 (3610-8860)
General Habitats:	Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, Pebble (Pavement) plain, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Global Rank:	G4Q
State Rank:	S4
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN), San Bernardino (SBD), Tulare (TUL), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Alamo Mountain (3411868), Alta Sierra (3511865), Big Bear City (3411637), Big Bear Lake (3411628), Breckenridge Mtn. (3511845), Cannell Peak (3511873), Claraville (3511843), Crag Peak (3611812), Fairview (3511884), Fawnskin (3411638), Frazier Mtn. (3411878), Lake Arrowhead (3411732), Lamont Peak (3511871), Lockwood Valley (3411961), Long Canyon (3611811), Moonridge (3411627), Onyx Peak (3411626), Sirretta Peak (3511883), Sphinx Lakes (3611865), Tobias Peak (3511875), Walker Pass (3511861)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



Can be locally common. Difficult to separate from P. mohavensis. See Synoptical Flora of North America 2(1):165 (1878) for original description, and Systematic Botany 13(1):16-20 (1988) for revised nomenclature.
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 12 February 2025].