Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus
Cedar ridge popcornflower, Cedar Ridge Popcornflower
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus (Cedar ridge popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by differs from var. glyptocarpus by small flowers (2-3mm vs 5-9mm).
Cedar ridge popcornflower is a California native annual found in northern Coast Ranges Interior and northern Sierra Nevada Foothills in Lake, Butte, and Nevada counties, growing in seeps, moist grassland openings, and ponderosa pine forests at elevations of 50 to 870 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white flowers with delicate corolla limbs approximately 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender, branching stems rising 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges from thin, fibrous roots. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, arranged alternately along the stem, typically 1 to 5 centimeters long and light green in color. The fruit develops as small, textured nutlets characteristic of the popcornflower genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; differs from var. glyptocarpus by small flowers (2-3mm vs 5-9mm)
Habitat and range
Habitat: Seeps, moist openings in grassland, ponderosa-pine forest
Elevation: 50-870 m
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 3
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. modestus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus bloom?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus belong to?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
Is Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus rare or endangered?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus carries California Rare Plant Rank 3, state rank SH.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus grow in?
Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus var. modestus grows in Seeps, moist openings in grassland, ponderosa-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.