Greeneocharis similis
Dome greeneocharis, Dome Cryptantha
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Greeneocharis similis (Dome greeneocharis) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by key distinguishing features are yellow vs. white flower appendages and larger corolla limb.
Dome greeneocharis is a California native annual found in northern Santa Barbara Mountains, northwestern Santa Bernardino Mountains, southeastern Peninsular Ranges, and southern Mojave Desert in gravelly to coarse sandy soils, Joshua-tree woodland, and occasionally pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 700 to 1,870 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers with conspicuous appendages in small clusters of one to three blooms. Growing as a cushion-like annual with ascending to spreading branches 3 to 12 centimeters in diameter, it features a distinctive red-purple plant base and slender branches covered in coarse, ascending hairs. Its leaves are crowded at branch ends, linear to oblanceolate, roughly 0.3 to 1 centimeter long with margins rolled under and covered in ascending to appressed hairs. The fruit consists of two to four shiny brown nutlets, each triangular-ovate and 1.2 to 1.5 millimeters long with sharp-angled margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key distinguishing features are yellow vs. white flower appendages and larger corolla limb
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly to coarse sandy soils, Joshua-tree woodland, occasionally pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 700-1870 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego
Bloom period
Greeneocharis similis blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Greeneocharis is a tiny cushion-like annual whose fruiting calyx breaks off cleanly around the middle like a lid (circumscissile); Cryptantha calyces persist and fall whole or split lengthwise, and plants are taller and more openly branched.; vs Eremocarya: Greeneocharis forms a low cushion broader than tall with a reddish base and a lid-splitting calyx; Eremocarya is usually taller than wide with a persistent, non-lidded calyx.; vs Johnstonella: Greeneocharis has the circumscissile calyx and crowded linear leaves; Johnstonella has ordinary persistent calyces and differently margined, sculptured nutlets.; vs Plagiobothrys: Greeneocharis is a dwarf cushion with a calyx that sheds like a lid; Plagiobothrys (popcornflower) is leafier, often stains purple, and has coiled flower spikes with a persistent calyx.; vs Pectocarya: Greeneocharis nutlets stay enclosed in the shed calyx; Pectocarya has distinctive paired nutlets spreading in a cross with toothed or hooked margins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greeneocharis similis native to California?
Yes. Greeneocharis similis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Greeneocharis similis bloom?
Greeneocharis similis blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Greeneocharis similis grow?
Greeneocharis similis occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego, at elevations of 700-1870 m.
What plant family does Greeneocharis similis belong to?
Greeneocharis similis is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Greeneocharis.
What habitat does Greeneocharis similis grow in?
Greeneocharis similis grows in Gravelly to coarse sandy soils, Joshua-tree woodland, occasionally pinyon/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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.