Cryptantha catalinensis
Santa catalina island cryptantha
(c) Rachel Stringham, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rachel Stringham · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Cryptantha catalinensis (Santa catalina island cryptantha) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family.
Santa catalina island cryptantha is a California native annual found in coastal sage scrub and grasslands of the Channel Islands at elevations of 30 to 140 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to yellow flowers with delicate petals approximately 4 to 6 millimeters in diameter. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with a few erect to decumbent branches, it has densely hairy stems with both appressed and spreading short rough hairs. Its narrow linear leaves are 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, covered with minutely bulbous-based hairs on the upper surface and coarse bristly hairs on the lower surface. The plant produces four nutlets that are lance-ovate, brown, and 1.7 to 2.1 millimeters long, with a distinctive papillate and tubercled surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - island endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal sage scrub and grasslands
Elevation: 30-140 m
Bloom period
Cryptantha catalinensis 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 catalinensis native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha catalinensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha catalinensis bloom?
Cryptantha catalinensis blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Cryptantha catalinensis belong to?
Cryptantha catalinensis is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha catalinensis grow in?
Cryptantha catalinensis grows in Coastal sage scrub and grasslands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Cryptantha corollata — Coast range cryptantha
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.