Plant Data

Names and Taxonomy

  • Common Names: narrowleaf cryptocantha, panamint catseye, bristlelobe cryptantha
  • Synonyms: Johnstonella angustifolia, Eremocarya angustifolia
  • Family: Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not)
  • Genus Information: Some sources list the total number of Cryptantha species in Nevada as 44 or 45, and mention that the genus Johnstonella is considered a segregate of Cryptantha. There are 8-16 species of Johnstonella in the US

Habit and Size

  • Duration: annual
  • Habit: forb
  • Shape: decumbent, spreading
  • Size: 18 inches (0.5 m)
  • Stem: bristles

Leaves

  • Color: dark green
  • Shape: linear
  • Edge: bristles
  • Arrangement:
  • Leaf Retention:

Flowers and Fruit

  • Sex: monoecious
  • Flower Color: white
  • Flower Size: 1/4 inch
  • Number of Petals: 5
  • Bloom: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
  • Fruit: Schizocarp, 4 nutlets

Habitat and Growing Conditions

  • Water Use: low
  • Light: full sun
  • Soil: sandy
  • Habitat: creosote-bush scrub, desert woodland

Distribution

  • Distribution: AZ, CA, NM, NV, TX, UT
  • Seen: Cronese Valley, CA
  • Elevation: < 4200 feet (1600 m)

Photographs

Narrowleaf Cryptocantha (Johnstonella angustifolia)

Cronese Valley, CA

Narrowleaf Cryptocantha (Johnstonella angustifolia)

Death Valley, CA