Cryptantha mariposae

Mariposa cryptantha

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Mariposa cryptantha is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills on rocky, semi-barren ridges and dry serpentine slopes at elevations of 200 to 650 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces tiny yellow-centered white flowers with prominent deep yellow appendages in small cymes. Growing 8 to 25 centimeters tall with sparse-strigose stems that are ascending to occasionally spreading, it has a delicate, somewhat rough-textured appearance. Its lowest leaves are 1 to 2 centimeters long, oblong to oblanceolate, with sparse short bristles arising from bulbous bases. The fruit consists of (2)3 or 4 ovate to lance-ovate nutlets, approximately 2 millimeters long, which are fine-papillate and range from dull to glossy brown.

Habitat: Rocky, semi-barren ridges, dry slopes, serpentine endemic, generally chaparral

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 200-650 m

Bioregions: n&ampc SNF.

California counties: Mariposa, Tuolumne, Amador, San Benito, Stanislaus, El Dorado, Calaveras

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.