Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus
Sculptured-nut popcornflower, Sculptured-Nut Popcornflower
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus (Sculptured-nut popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family.
Sculptured-nut popcornflower is a California native annual found in low-elevation grasslands and open areas. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white flowers with yellow appendages in delicate clusters. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops strigose (stiff-hairy) stems that spread in loose, branching patterns. Its cauline leaves are elongated, measuring 4 to 8 centimeters, with a soft, textured surface. The distinctive fruit features nutlets with narrow, high cross-ribs and wide, granular interspaces, creating a sculptured appearance that gives the plant its unique name.
Habitat and range
California counties: Shasta, Lake, Tehama, Butte, Yuba, Glenn, Stanislaus
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Seeds have a raised ridge down the inner face, not a groove like Cryptantha.; vs Pectocarya: Seeds lack the comb-like marginal barbs of Pectocarya; attachment scar is raised.; vs Myosotis: Flowers are smaller and more tubular; Myosotis has wider, flatter blue flowers with yellow centers.; vs Nemophila: Nemophila has much larger, showier blue-white flowers and broader leaves.; vs Leptosiphon: Leptosiphon has needle-like divided leaves; Plagiobothrys has simple narrow leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus grow?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus occurs in Shasta, Lake, Tehama, Butte, Yuba, Glenn, Stanislaus.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus belong to?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus — Sculptured allocarya
- Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus — Cedar ridge popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys greenei — Greene's spiny-nut popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys hispidulus — Harsh popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys humistratus — Low popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys hystriculus — Bearded popcornflower
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.