Scarlet Gilia

Appearance

"Ipomopsis aggregata" has characteristic red, trumpet-shaped flowers and basal leaves stemming from a single erect stem. Depending on elevation, height can range from 12 inches, in Rocky Mountain alpine areas, to over 5 feet, in areas of southern Texas. Trumpet flowers can range from white, red, orange-red, and pink. Pink flowers are especially common in high mesa areas of Colorado, such as the Flat Tops, Grand Mesa, or the Uncompahgre Plateau. Yellow flowers have been reported for plant but are extremely rare. Fernlike leaves are low to the ground, helping encourage warmth in colder areas, and have silver specks and a fine white pubescence. A well known delicacy in nature, "Ipomopsis aggregata" is well adapted to herbivory, as it can regrow multiple flowering stalks once lost. Although herbivory initially reduces seed and fruit count of the plant, intermediate herbivory and its stimulating factors could lead to the plant growing larger over time. Elk and mule deer are common herbivores on "Ipomopsis aggregata".

In its first year, the plant appears as a cluster of distinctive leaves, which collect energy into the taproot, from which it rapidly grows in its second year.

Distribution

"Ipomopsis aggregata" is native to western North America, growing mainly in mountains in the west-central to western regions and ranging from British Columbia to Mexico.

Habitat

"Ipomopsis aggregata" is pollinated most commonly by long-tongued moths and hummingbirds, although others can be seen. Basal leaves overwinter, even in subalpine areas of the Rocky Mountains. The plant blooms in late spring to early summer, and into fall if weather conditions are favorable. Optimal growing conditions include little water, part shade, and sandy soil. Although defined as hermaphroditic, "Ipomopsis aggregata" has shown sex allocation in flowering months, with phenotypic sex reaching a proportion of 0.77 female components to male.

Uses

Some Plateau Indian tribes boiled it as a drink for kidney health.