Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus
Sculptured allocarya
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus (Sculptured allocarya) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by large flowers (5-9mm), sculptured nutlets with high toothed ridges.
Sculptured allocarya is a California native annual herb found in northern Coast Ranges, California Rocky Foothills, northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, and northern Sacramento Valley in moist grasslands, woodlands, and vernal pool habitats at elevations of 40 to 550 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with a corolla limb 5 to 9 millimeters in diameter. Growing with delicate, spreading stems typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms small, branching clusters in low-lying areas. Its leaves are typically narrow and elongated, arranged alternately along the stems with soft, somewhat hairy surfaces. In moist seasonal environments, this small annual plays a crucial role in the early spring botanical landscape of California's grassland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; large flowers (5-9mm), sculptured nutlets with high toothed ridges
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Moist places, vernal pools, grassland, woodland, forest
Elevation: 40-550 m
California counties: Butte, Nevada, Shasta, Tehama, Yuba, Merced
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus blooms Mar-May.
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 var. glyptocarpus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus bloom?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus grow?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus occurs in Butte, Nevada, Shasta, Tehama, Yuba, Merced, at elevations of 40-550 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus belong to?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus grow in?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. glyptocarpus grows in Common. Moist places, vernal pools, grassland, woodland, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Plagiobothrys infectivus — Dye 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.