Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii
Cleveland's cryptantha
Photo: parent species Cryptantha clevelandii · (c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii (Cleveland's cryptantha) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by 17 co-occurring species. Distinguished by fewer nutlets, cylindrical appressed calyx, and geographic restriction to coast/islands.
Cleveland's cryptantha is a California native annual herb found in southern California coastal regions and southern Channel Islands in grassland and coastal scrub habitats at elevations of 50 to 150 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with a small corolla limb 1 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with sparse, appressed hairs and fine-bristly margins, it forms small cymes in ones or twos with erect stems. Its leaves feature sparse, appressed hairs along the midvein with fine bristly margins. The plant typically produces one or two small nutlets in a cylindrical calyx 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 co-occurring species. Distinguished by fewer nutlets, cylindrical appressed calyx, and geographic restriction to coast/islands.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Loamy or sandy soils, slopes, generally sedimentary based substrates, occasionally serpentine (San Luis Obispo Co.), grassland, coastal scrub
Elevation: 50-150(230) m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii 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 clevelandii var. clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii bloom?
Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii belong to?
Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii grow in?
Cryptantha clevelandii var. clevelandii grows in Loamy or sandy soils, slopes, generally sedimentary based substrates, occasionally serpentine (San Luis Obispo Co.), grassland, coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.