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Cryptantha microstachys

Higher Taxonomy
Family: BoraginaceaeView DescriptionDichotomous Key

eFlora Treatment Author: Ronald B. Kelley, Robert Patterson, Richard R. Halse & Timothy C. Messick, family description, key to genera, treatment of genera by Ronald B. Kelley, except as noted
Genus: CryptanthaView DescriptionDichotomous Key

Habit: Annual to perennial herb, generally erect. Stem: branches 0 or generally ascending to erect, hairy. Leaf: generally sessile; basal whorled, cauline generally alternate, reduced above (opposite below); generally strigose, rough-hairy, or bristly, largest bristles generally bulbous-based. Inflorescence: generally terminal, raceme- or generally spike-like cymes, in groups of 1--5 (> 5), generally coiled in bud, generally elongated in fruit; bracts generally 0. Flower: generally unscented, persistent or not; sepals fused at base; corolla tube generally 1--13 mm, limb 0.5--12 mm diam, generally white, appendages generally 5; anthers included; ovary generally 4-lobed. Fruit: pedicel 0 or < 12 mm in fruit; nutlets 1--4, generally gray to brown, smooth to granular, tubercled, or papillate, with abaxial, longitudinal ridge to not; margin rounded, sharp-edged, or a +- flat rim or wing; adaxially grooved above attachment scar, scar generally lateral, narrow, open to closed, raised or generally not, edges inrolled to sharp-angled, generally forked or flared open at base; central fruit axis ("axis") not reaching to extending beyond fruit.
eFlora Treatment Author: Ronald B. Kelley, Michael G. Simpson & Kristen E. Hasenstab-Lehman

Cryptantha microstachys (Greene ex A. Gray) Greene.
Habit: Annual 10--50 cm. Stem: +- red-brown, branches 0--many, above middle; strigose and spreading- to ascending-rough-hairy to bristly. Leaf: basal rosette generally well developed; 0.5--5(6) cm, linear to oblong, generally spreading-hairy (strigose), lower midvein, margin +- sparse-spreading-bristly. Inflorescence: in 1s to 3s; bracts 0; pedicel 0. Flower: calyx < 1 mm, (1)1.5--2 mm in fruit, constricted above, late-deciduous, lobes +- linear, tips erect to +- spreading, rough-hairy, hairs spreading to ascending, midvein +- thickened, with coarse spreading bristles; corolla late-deciduous, limb 0.5--1.5(2.5) mm diam, appendages minute, +- white. Fruit: nutlets 1(2), 1.3--1.6 mm, lanceolate, smooth, shiny, margin rounded, +- plump, base +- rounded, tip beaked; abaxially rounded, ridge 0; adaxially low-rounded, attachment scar edges abutted entire length or short-forked-gapped at base; axis not to nutlet tips.
Ecology: Open sites, chaparral, woodland, burns; Elevation: 50--1950 m. Bioregional Distribution: NCoRI, s SN, Teh, SnFrB, SCoR, SW (exc ChI); Distribution Outside California: Baja California. Flowering Time: Apr--Jun
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Citation for this treatment: Ronald B. Kelley, Michael G. Simpson & Kristen E. Hasenstab-Lehman 2017. Cryptantha microstachys, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=21264, accessed on April 28, 2017.


Geographic subdivisions for Cryptantha microstachys:
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Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria.
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Duplicates counted once; synonyms included.
Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa.
Blue line denotes eFlora flowering time.