Greeneocharis circumscissa
Cushion cryptantha
(c) Martin Purdy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Greeneocharis circumscissa (Cushion cryptantha) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family.
Cushion cryptantha is a California native annual found in rocky or desert habitats at low elevations. Flowering from March to May, this tiny plant produces white to pale yellow flowers less than 2 millimeters in diameter, forming dense clusters. Growing as a compact cushion-like plant just 0.5 to 10 centimeters wide, it develops slender branches covered in stiff, ascending hairs. Its small leaves, measuring 0.3 to 1.5 centimeters long, are rough-textured with spreading or ascending hairs. The distinctive fruit features nutlets with a unique circumscissile calyx that splits cup-like around the middle.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Lassen, Los Angeles, Kern, Mono, Inyo, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Modoc, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Plumas, Tuolumne, Imperial, Fresno, Alameda, Nevada, El Dorado, Alpine
Frequently asked questions
Is Greeneocharis circumscissa native to California?
Yes. Greeneocharis circumscissa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Greeneocharis circumscissa grow?
Greeneocharis circumscissa occurs in San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Lassen, Los Angeles, Kern, Mono and other counties.
What plant family does Greeneocharis circumscissa belong to?
Greeneocharis circumscissa is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Greeneocharis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.