Long-flowered trumpet gilia appears in near-desert conditions, in dry plains and mesas
and shrublands, at elevations of
1000-8000′ (304-2438 m).
It is native to the southwestern United States.
Plants: 10-39″ (25-100 cm) tall, sometimes
erect, often sprawling and heavily branched. Stems are smooth or with a few hairs. Annual or
biennial.
Leaves: Leaves are as thin as threads, barely
distinguishable from equally threadlike stems.
Flowers: These might be record-holders for long-necked
trumpet-shaped flowers. The tubes are up to 1-1¾″ (3-5 cm) long and about 1/32″ (1 mm) in diameter,
looking improbably delicate. At the end, five pale blue-violet or white petals flare out.
They are pollinated by moths with, one presumes, extraordinarily long tongues. Flowers
appear any time from spring to fall, after rains.