Cryptantha maritima var. maritima
Guadalupe cryptantha
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptantha maritima var. maritima (Guadalupe cryptantha) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by hair length and orientation diagnostic vs var. pilosa.
Guadalupe cryptantha is a California native annual found in desert regions on sandy to gravelly soils in washes, canyons, and stream beds at elevations below 1,350 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white flowers with delicate, appressed hairs along the calyx margins. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms small, sparse clusters in open desert landscapes. Its narrow leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, typically linear to lance-shaped and covered in fine, soft hairs. The plant's calyx lobes feature distinctive coarse, stout bristles that spread horizontally or reflexed, giving it a textured appearance in its arid habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species - hair length and orientation diagnostic vs var. pilosa
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common, widespread in desert washes, canyons, alluvial slopes, stream beds; sandy to gravelly soils
Elevation: < 1350 m
Outside California: southwestern Nevada, Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Cryptantha maritima var. maritima blooms Feb-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 var. maritima native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha maritima var. maritima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha maritima var. maritima bloom?
Cryptantha maritima var. maritima blooms Feb-May.
What plant family does Cryptantha maritima var. maritima belong to?
Cryptantha maritima var. maritima is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha maritima var. maritima grow in?
Cryptantha maritima var. maritima grows in Common, widespread in desert washes, canyons, alluvial slopes, stream beds; sandy to gravelly soils.
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.