Cryptantha maritima
Guadalupe cryptantha
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptantha maritima (Guadalupe cryptantha) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by . Key features: distinctive dimorphic nutlets, 1-2 seeds only, southern CA distribution.
Guadalupe cryptantha is a California native annual found in southern coastal California, Channel Islands, eastern San Bernardino Mountains, eastern Peninsular Ranges, and deserts in sandy to gravelly soils at elevations below 1,250 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with small corolla limbs in delicate cymes. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with erect to ascending red-brown stems covered in strigose and spreading rough hairs, it develops distinctive branching throughout its structure. Its narrow linear to oblanceolate leaves measure 1 to 4 centimeters long, covered in appressed bristly hairs with bulbous bases that give the plant a rough texture. The fruit consists of one or two nutlets, with one smooth, shiny brown nutlet and a potentially smaller grayish nutlet with fine tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species. Key features: distinctive dimorphic nutlets, 1-2 seeds only, southern CA distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common, widespread. Sandy to gravelly soils
Elevation: < 1250 m.
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern
Outside California: southwestern Nevada, Arizona, Mexico.
Bloom period
Cryptantha maritima 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 maritima native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha maritima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha maritima bloom?
Cryptantha maritima blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cryptantha maritima grow?
Cryptantha maritima occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 1250 m..
What plant family does Cryptantha maritima belong to?
Cryptantha maritima is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha maritima grow in?
Cryptantha maritima grows in Common, widespread. Sandy to gravelly soils.
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.