Cryptantha echinella
Hedgehog cryptantha, Hedgehog Cryptantha
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptantha echinella (Hedgehog cryptantha) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by 45 co-occurring species. Key diagnostic: nutlets densely covered with elongated spine-like tubercles, hence 'hedgehog' appearance.
Hedgehog cryptantha is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada high country, Tehachapi, Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and Desert Mountains including Panamint and New York Mountains in dry, gravelly, or rocky soils at elevations of 700 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small white flowers with minute appendages less than 2 millimeters in diameter. Growing with pale green stems 5 to 35 centimeters tall that are sparsely covered in spreading rough hairs, it develops sparse branching throughout its structure. Its leaves are generally few, 1 to 5 centimeters long, ranging from oblong to oblanceolate and covered in stiff ascending hairs. The fruit consists of 3 or 4 grayish nutlets with distinctive spiny, narrowly elongated tubercles that give the plant its hedgehog-like appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 co-occurring species. Key diagnostic: nutlets densely covered with elongated spine-like tubercles, hence 'hedgehog' appearance.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, loose, gravelly, or rocky soils, disturbed areas, generally open conifer forest, occasionally juniper woodland or scrub
Elevation: 700-3200 m
California counties: Kern, Ventura, Mono, Tulare, Alpine, Los Angeles, Plumas, Inyo, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Amador, Nevada, Modoc, Sierra, Mariposa, Placer, Tuolumne, Lassen, Madera, Fresno, Santa Barbara
Outside California: eastern Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Cryptantha echinella blooms May-Aug.
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 echinella native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha echinella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha echinella bloom?
Cryptantha echinella blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Cryptantha echinella grow?
Cryptantha echinella occurs in Kern, Ventura, Mono, Tulare, Alpine, Los Angeles, Plumas, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 700-3200 m.
What plant family does Cryptantha echinella belong to?
Cryptantha echinella is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha echinella grow in?
Cryptantha echinella grows in Dry, loose, gravelly, or rocky soils, disturbed areas, generally open conifer forest, occasionally juniper woodland or scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.