Pectocarya peninsularis
Baja pectocarya
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pectocarya peninsularis (Baja pectocarya) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by large corolla, straight nutlets in one plane.
Baja pectocarya is a California native annual found in western desert regions of Sonora in desert washes, roadsides, and clearings at elevations of 30 to 300 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces delicate white flowers with corolla limbs 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with ascending to erect stems 2 to 24 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive nutlets with winged margins and hook-tipped bristles. Its small leaves cluster along the stem, with basal cleistogamous flowers emerging beneath the main flowering branches. The plant's tiny nutlets, which arrange themselves in a single plane, are ovate-elliptic and 1.1 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; diagnostic large corolla, straight nutlets in one plane
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, roadsides, clearings
Elevation: 30-300 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Pectocarya peninsularis blooms Feb-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Plagiobothrys: Pectocarya sepals stay equal and separate; Plagiobothrys sepals become unequal or partly fused in fruit.; vs Cryptantha: Pectocarya nutlets have hooked bristles on edges; Cryptantha nutlets are smooth or rough, not hooked.; vs Harpagonella: Pectocarya has 4 nutlets with equal sepals; Harpagonella has 2 nutlets with huge arching spiny sepals.; vs Johnstonella: Pectocarya has flattened nutlets with marginal hooks; Johnstonella has rounded nutlets with covering bristles.; vs Greeneocharis: Pectocarya has hooked marginal bristles; Greeneocharis has smooth or minutely rough nutlets without hooks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pectocarya peninsularis native to California?
Yes. Pectocarya peninsularis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pectocarya peninsularis bloom?
Pectocarya peninsularis blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Pectocarya peninsularis belong to?
Pectocarya peninsularis is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Pectocarya.
What habitat does Pectocarya peninsularis grow in?
Pectocarya peninsularis grows in Washes, roadsides, clearings.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.