Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii
Purpus' cryptantha
Photo: parent species Cryptantha pterocarya · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii (Purpus' cryptantha) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by basal rosette and variable nutlet patterns.
Purpus' cryptantha is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada (eastern slope), southern Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, and northern Desert Mountains in sandy to gravelly desert slopes and juniper woodlands at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this delicate plant produces small white flowers with dense-strigose calyces 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender green stems that branch extensively from the base, it forms a well-developed basal rosette of linear leaves. Its distinctive leaves are arranged in a compact rosette, creating a delicate ground-hugging form with multiple thin branches. The fruit features unusual nutlets that can be slightly different within the same plant, with some having sharp-angled margins and a mottled brown or grayish coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; basal rosette and variable nutlet patterns
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly soils, desert slopes, generally juniper woodland
Elevation: 900-2200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Imperial, Mono, Kern, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii blooms Mar-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 pterocarya var. purpusii native to California?
Yes. Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii bloom?
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii grow?
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Imperial, Mono, Kern, Riverside, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of 900-2200 m.
What plant family does Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii belong to?
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Cryptantha.
What habitat does Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii grow in?
Cryptantha pterocarya var. purpusii grows in Sandy to gravelly soils, desert slopes, generally juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-01
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.