PLANT: Annual, 8-20(-35) cm tall, branched throughout; stems cobwebby pubescent below, glandular above.

LEAVES: cobwebby pubescent, reduced above the basal rosette; basal and lower deeply lobed, the lobes linear to oblong; cauline basally lobed or entire.

INFLORESCENCE: open, with 1-2 pedicelled flowers at branch tips.

FLOWERS: calyx 2-5 mm long, the lobes acute; corolla funnelform, 4-7 mm long, the tube equal to the calyx, the throat pale blue to white, the lobes light to deep violet, yellow spotted at base; stamens inserted on the throat; anthers located above the throat; stigma situated among the anthers.

CAPSULE: 3-6.5 mm long, globose to ovoid. 2n=18.

NOTES: Open sites, shrubland, woodland; Coconino, Mohave, San Juan, Yavapai, Yuma cos.; 450-1300 m (1600-4200 ft); Mar-Apr; CA to WY, s to AZ and NM.

REFERENCES: Dieter H. Wilken and J. Mark Porter, 2005, Vascular Plants of Arizona: Polemoniaceae. CANOTIA 1: 1-37.

Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Herbaceous annuals, to 35 cm tall, stems branched throughout, herbage cobwebby pubescent below, glandular above.

Leaves: Alternate, basal and cauline, 1-3 cm long; basal blades 1-2-pinnate-lobed, the lobes short-pointed and spreading, upper, cauline blades palmate, the middle lobe widest, or basally lobed or entire, becoming reduced above the basal rosette, surfaces grayish-green and cobwebby pubescent.

Flowers: Light to deep violet with pale blue to white throats and yellow spotted at the bases, corollas with 5 open and spreading, acute-tipped lobes, corollas funnelform, 4-7 mm long, the lobes 1-3 mm long, the tube equal in length to the to the calyx, calyx 2-5 mm long with acute lobes, the lobes acute with thick tips, glabrous or tufted-woolly-hairy in early flowers, stamens and styles exserted, stamens inserted on the throat, anthers located above the throat, stigmas open and situated among the anthers, flowers borne on paired, spreading, unequal, thread-like pedicels in small clusters of 2 or solitary at branch tips.

Fruits: Globose to ovoid capsules 3-6.5 mm long, the tips pointed, valves detaching at base. Seeds 9-24, yellow to brown and gelatinous when wet.

Ecology: Found on limestone soils, in open sites, shrublands, rocky slopes, sandy washes, and woodland communities, from 1,500-8,000 ft (457-2438 m); flowering March-April.

Distribution: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah.

Notes: This small, white to light purple gilia has a corolla with 5 open and spreading lobes with acute tips and slightly exserted, blue to purple anthers, along with cobwebby pubescent leaves and stems.

Ethnobotany: Specific uses for this species are unknown, but other species in the genus have uses; plant used for wounds, cuts or sores, infusion of whole plant taken by children for cold, diuretic, emetic, laxative, taken and rubbed on body for fever, taken and applied to head for headache, and taken and applied to neck for swollen throat.

Etymology: Gilia is named after Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756-1821), and clokeyi is named after Ira Waddell Clokey (1878-1950), who collected plants and produced an impressive flora of the Charleston Mountains in Clark County, Nevada in the 1930's.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher2012