Abstract:
A systematic study was made of the species comprising
Phacelia section Miltitzia. These species, which are commonly
found in the Great Basin physiographic province of western North
America, are distinguished from other members of Phacelia by their
yellow, marcescent corollas and their transversely corrugated seeds.
This project utilized morphological, cytological, distributional,
and palynological comparisons, and a study of the reproductive
biology of the species in section Miltitzia. Over 600 specimens were
studied from 20 herbaria in the United States.
An artificial key to the nine species and two varieties of section
Miltitzia is presented in the taxonomic treatment along with complete
synonymies, descriptions, lists of representative specimens, and
distribution maps. One new species, Phacelia monoensis, is
described and an existing taxon, Phacelia submutica, is reduced to
varietal status under Phacelia scopulina.
