Plagiobothrys scriptus
Scridgee's popcornflower, Scridgee's Popcornflower
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys scriptus (Scridgee's popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by prostrate interwoven habit and funnel-like seed scar distinctive.
Scridgee's popcornflower is a California native annual found in the northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, northern Sierra Nevada, and northern Sacramento Valley in moist, thin, rocky clay soils at elevations generally below 150 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with small white corollas approximately 2 millimeters in diameter. Growing with prostrate stems 5 to 15 centimeters long that are often interwoven with surrounding plants, it has a sparse-strigose appearance. Its cauline leaves range from 1 to 2 centimeters long on the lower stem and 0.5 to 2 centimeters long on the upper stem, with a delicate, spreading growth habit. The fruit consists of shiny, wide-ovate nutlets about 2 millimeters long with a distinctive triangular scar near the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species - prostrate interwoven habit and funnel-like seed scar distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist thin, rocky, clay soil
Elevation: generally < 150 m
California counties: San Diego, Butte, Tehama, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Stanislaus, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Sutter, Alpine
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys scriptus blooms Feb-Apr.
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 scriptus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys scriptus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys scriptus bloom?
Plagiobothrys scriptus blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys scriptus grow?
Plagiobothrys scriptus occurs in San Diego, Butte, Tehama, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Stanislaus, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of generally < 150 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys scriptus belong to?
Plagiobothrys scriptus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys scriptus grow in?
Plagiobothrys scriptus grows in Moist thin, rocky, clay soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys shastensis — Shasta popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys sp. — Popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys stipitatus — Great valley popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus — Common vernal pool allocarya
- Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus — Showy great valley popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys strictus — Calistoga 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.