About Gilia latiflora (A.Gray) A.Gray
Gilia latiflora contributes lavender-colored blooms to the colorful carpet of spring wildflowers that grows on sandy washes in its native region. This plant begins growth from a basal rosette of frilly leaves, with each leaf composed of many narrow-toothed lobes. Its main stem is typically too small to be noticeable; instead, the plant is scapose, meaning it sends stem-like inflorescences directly upward from the ground. Each multibranched inflorescence ranges in color from green to reddish, and reaches a maximum height of nearly half a meter. The calyx measures 2–7 millimeters (0.1–0.3 inches) long and is more or less glandular. The flowers of Gilia latiflora are fragrant. The corolla is 9–35 millimeters (0.4–1.4 inches) across, and has a purple tube. The upper throat and base of the corolla lobes are white, with the color grading to lavender at the lobe tips. Generally, five stamens and one longer style protrude out from the corolla throat.
