Eucrypta micrantha
Dainty desert hideseed
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eucrypta micrantha (Dainty desert hideseed) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by simpler leaf division, desert habitat, and smaller inflorescences.
Dainty desert hideseed is a California native annual herb found in the southern Mojave Desert, eastern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in rocky canyon habitats, washes, and hillside slopes at elevations of 60 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this delicate plant produces white to blue-purple flowers with yellow tubes around 2 to 4 millimeters long. Growing with weak stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall that are stalked-glandular, it has a distinctive growth pattern of slender, branching stems. Its deeply lobed leaves have 7 to 9 oblong or oblanceolate segments, with lower leaves up to 5 centimeters long and becoming progressively smaller and more reduced toward the stem tips. The tiny black seeds mature into curved, worm-like shapes with a distinctive coarsely pitted and corrugated surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by simpler leaf division, desert habitat, and smaller inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, hillsides, rocky crevices, washes, slopes
Elevation: 60-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Fresno
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, western Mexico
Bloom period
Eucrypta micrantha blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Phacelia: Eucrypta feels very sticky to touch and retains seeds in fruit; Phacelia is typically non-sticky and seeds fall out cleanly.; vs Pholistoma: Eucrypta has finely divided fern-like leaves; Pholistoma has broader, less divided leaves with backward-pointing bristles.; vs Nemophila: Eucrypta has very sticky herbage and tiny flowers; Nemophila is non-sticky with showy saucer-shaped flowers.; vs Cryptantha: Eucrypta has fern-like divided leaves; Cryptantha has simple narrow leaves covered in stiff hairs.; vs Emmenanthe: Eucrypta flowers spread outward; Emmenanthe flowers hang downward like bells and become papery when dry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eucrypta micrantha native to California?
Yes. Eucrypta micrantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eucrypta micrantha bloom?
Eucrypta micrantha blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Eucrypta micrantha grow?
Eucrypta micrantha occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of 60-2500 m.
What plant family does Eucrypta micrantha belong to?
Eucrypta micrantha is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Eucrypta.
What habitat does Eucrypta micrantha grow in?
Eucrypta micrantha grows in Canyons, hillsides, rocky crevices, washes, slopes.
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.