More commonly known as “gilia” in honor of the eighteenth-century
Italian botanist Felippo Luigo Gilii, the many species of gilias are
common and widespread throughout the deserts of the Southwest at nearly
all elevations. Since the flowers are usually small and range in color
from white to lavender, pink, and yellow, they are not as well known as
more spectacular genera. Some are annuals but there are also many
perennial species. Starflower is found from west Texas and Chihuahua to
western Arizona at elevations from 1,000 to 8,000 feet on dry plains and
mesas, especially on limestone soils. It blossoms from March to October.
_Gilia longiflora_ Phlox Family
[Illustration: STARFLOWER]