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Taxon  Report  
Cryptantha recurvata  Coville
Curve nut cryptantha,   Curvenut cryptantha
Cryptantha recurvata is an annual herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in western North America.
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Bloom Period
Genus: Cryptantha
Family: Boraginaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Communities: Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland
Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Information about  Cryptantha recurvata from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (CRRE5)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[swbiodiversity.org] Description, Ecology, Etymology: Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Annual branched from base or throughout stem, strigose, 5 to 35 cm tall. Leaves: Linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 1 to 3 cm, with many bulbous-based bristles. Flowers: Open helicoid cyme with flowers spreading to recurved; sepals 1.5 to 2 mm, 2 to 3.5 mm and curved in fruit, densely spreading-bristly, hairs collectively light yellow brown, corolla limb 1 to 2 mm wide, white. Fruits: Nutlet, 1 to 2, 1.5 to 2 mm, lanceolate, curved, back fine-granular, brown, groove more or less closed, flared open at base. Ecology: Found in sandy to rocky soils from 2,500 to 8,000 ft (762 to 2438 m); flowers April to June. Notes: The recurved nutlets and calyx help to distinguish this from other species. As with all Cryptantha and Boraginaceae in general, you need flowers and fruits to key this species out. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses. Synonyms: None Editor: SBuckley, 2010 Etymology: Cryptantha comes from the Greek krypto, "hidden," and anthos, "flower," a reference to the first described species in the genus which has inconspicuous flowers that self-fertilize without opening; recurvata means curving backwards. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 04/25/2024).