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Pinyon Desert cryptantha
Scientific Name: Cryptantha scoparia
Family: Boraginaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names: WA (miner's candle)
Cryptantha scoparia
Also known as Pinyon Desert cryptantha, desert cryptantha, and pinyon desert cat's eye, Cryptantha scoparia is an annual herb native to California.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is often found in pinyon/juniper woodlands and desert scrub, which may be habitats explored by pets.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Boraginaceae (Borage family)
- Genus: Cryptantha
- Synonyms: The text mentions that some authorities (William Weber) break the traditional Cryptantha genus into Cryptantha and Oreocarya.
Distribution and Habitat
- Cryptantha scoparia is native to California.
- It is commonly found in Pinyon/Juniper woodlands and desert shrub communities.
- Specific locations mentioned include the Mojave Desert, Spring Hills (off Hwy 127 N of Baker, CA), and pinyon/juniper woodlands in the northern San Gabriel and northwestern San Bernardino mountains.
Morphological Characteristics
- Cryptantha scoparia is a slender annual herb.
- "Cryptantha" means "hidden flower".
- Grows to a height of 5 to 15 inches.
- It flowers from April to July.
Ecological Role
- It is described as being abundant and weedy in disturbed places within desert scrub and pinyon-juniper habitats.
Quirky Facts
- Pinyon wood, often found in the same habitat as Cryptantha scoparia, has a sweet fragrance associated with pueblos and adobe homes in the Southwest.
Further Information
- CalPhotos is mentioned as a source for photos of the plant.
- The Intermountain Flora Vol. 4 (Cronquist) is indicated as a resource for information about the genus Cryptantha.