Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae
Palm springs cryptantha, Palm Springs Cryptantha
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae (Palm springs cryptantha) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by 43 co-occurring species. Key features: large fragrant flowers with yellow appendages, different calyx shape.
Palm springs cryptantha is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada (eastern slope), northern Santa Barbara Mountains, eastern Peninsular Range, southern Sierra Nevada, and Deserts in granitic, often sandy substrates at elevations of 150 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with yellow appendages in small clusters, delicately scented. Growing with slender stems up to 15 centimeters tall, it forms loose, spreading clusters. Its narrow leaves measure 1 to 4 centimeters long, with sparse soft hairs along the margins. The fruit consists of 3 or 4 lance-ovate nutlets, each about 2 millimeters long with a tapered tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 43 co-occurring species. Key features: large fragrant flowers with yellow appendages, different calyx shape.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally granitic, often sandy substrates
Elevation: 150-1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, San Diego
Outside California: Arizona
Bloom period
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Plagiobothrys: Seeds have a groove down the inner face, not a raised ridge like Plagiobothrys.; vs Johnstonella: Cryptantha nutlets have grooves; Johnstonella nutlets lack distinct grooves on inner face.; vs Eremocarya: Cryptantha has grooved nutlets; Eremocarya nutlets are smooth without grooves.; vs Phacelia: Cryptantha has coiled flower clusters; Phacelia flowers are in looser, more open arrangements.; vs Pectocarya: Seeds lack the comb-like marginal barbs that give Pectocarya its combseed name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae bloom?
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae grow?
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, San Diego, at elevations of 150-1500 m.
What plant family does Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae belong to?
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae grow in?
Cryptantha barbigera var. fergusoniae grows in Generally granitic, often sandy substrates.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cryptantha catalinensis — Santa catalina island cryptantha
- Cryptantha clementina — San clemente island dune cryptantha
- Cryptantha clevelandii — Cleveland's cryptantha
- Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii — Cleveland's cryptantha
- Cryptantha clevelandii var. florosa — Coastal cryptantha
- Cryptantha clokeyi — Clokey's cryptantha
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.