Linanthus jonesii – “Jones Linanthus”

Other Botanical Names: Gilia jonesii, Linanthus bigelovii var. jonesii
Family: Phlox (Polemoniaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-May
Form: Annual
Habitat: Sandy flats, washes
Leaves: Linear, almost thread-like; opposite
Translation: “Linanthus” is Greek for “flax flower” because flowers in this genus resemble those of Flax; “jonesii” is named after Marcus Eugene Jones (1852-1934), a self-taught geologist and botanist who was described as “an irascible old codger”; “Gilia” is named for Felippo Luigo Gilii (1756-1821), Italian naturalist, astronomer and author; “bigelovii” is John M. Bigelow, MD, (1804-1878), a U.S. botanical collector.