Cryptantha microstachys
Tejon cryptantha, Tejon Cryptantha
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptantha microstachys (Tejon cryptantha) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by . Key features: 1-2 nutlets only, well-developed basal rosette, burn-adapted.
Tejon cryptantha is a California native annual herb found in northern coastal Interior Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in open sites, chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 50 to 1,950 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with minute appendages in small cymes. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with reddish-brown stems that are strigose and spreading-hairy, it develops a well-formed basal rosette of linear to oblong leaves. Its leaves, 0.5 to 5 centimeters long, are covered in spreading hairs with sparse bristly margins. The fruit consists of smooth, shiny, plump nutlets 1.3 to 1.6 millimeters long with a lanceolate shape and rounded margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 49 sympatric species. Key features: 1-2 nutlets only, well-developed basal rosette, burn-adapted
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sites, chaparral, woodland, burns
Elevation: 50-1950 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Ventura, Monterey, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Benito, Orange, Contra Costa, Lake, Tehama, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus, Glenn, Colusa, Napa, Yolo, Alameda, Tuolumne, Trinity, Shasta, Mono, Inyo, Fresno
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cryptantha microstachys blooms Apr-Jun.
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 microstachys native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha microstachys is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha microstachys bloom?
Cryptantha microstachys blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Cryptantha microstachys grow?
Cryptantha microstachys occurs in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Ventura, Monterey, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of 50-1950 m.
What plant family does Cryptantha microstachys belong to?
Cryptantha microstachys is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha microstachys grow in?
Cryptantha microstachys grows in Open sites, chaparral, woodland, burns.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cryptantha milobakeri — Milo baker's cryptantha
- Cryptantha mohavensis — Mojave cryptantha
- Cryptantha muricata — Pointed cryptantha
- Cryptantha muricata var. denticulata — Prickly-nut cryptantha
- Cryptantha muricata var. jonesii — Jones's cryptantha
- Cryptantha muricata var. muricata — Showy prickly-nut cryptantha
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.