WILDFLOWER HOME PAGE      SEARCH BY PLANT NAME     WHITE FLOWERS     CONTACT US

    Cryptanthas are lovely plants with an abundance of tiny flowers, hairy leaves very evident in early spring, and persisting dried flower stalks. 

     The Cryptantha and Oreocarya genera are quite similar in appearance and characteristics.  In 1927 Edwin Payson moved many Oreocaryas to the Cryptantha genus and most botanists accept this classification; Colorado plant authority William Weber does not and retains the Oreocarya designation for most species in the Four Corners area.  Weber separates the two genera as follows:

     Oreocarya: "Biennial or perennial from rosettes of basal leaves; flowers more than 5 mm in diameter, often distinctly long-tubular with prominent yellow eye."

     Cryptantha: "Annual without rosettes of basal leaves; flowers minute, less than 5 mm diameter, short-tubed with inconspicuous eye."

    Whatever the genus name, it is difficult to determine the exact species; often the distinguishing characteristic is the shape and markings of the tiny nutlet, observable only with a hand lens or microscope. 

     "Oreos" is Greek for "mountain" and "caryum" is Greek for "nut".

     "Cryptantha" is Greek for "hidden flower" and probably refers to the very small size of the flower.

     The Cryptantha genus was named by Lehman in 1837 and the Oreocarya genus was named by Edward Greene in 1887.

     This web site, following the nomenclature of John Kartesz, recognizes just the one genus, Cryptantha.

     Click for more Cryptanthas.
Oreocarya flavoculata
Cryptantha flavoculata.  Synonym: Oreocarya flavoculata.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family)

Semi-desert. Canyonlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 5, 2005.

This Cryptantha is, according to William Weber, "probably the most common and variable species [in Colorado], from [the] Gunnison Basin westward, in sagebrush and pinon-juniper".   It can be erect or reclining,  is very hairy, and has flowers with a touch of yellow in the center and along the throat.  It is very similar to Cryptantha fulvocanescens shown below and is distinguished primarily by the shape of its nutlets.

"Flavoculata" is Latin for "a little yellow".
Oreocarya flavoculata
Cryptantha flavoculata.  Synonym: Oreocarya flavoculata.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family)

Semi-desert. Canyonlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 5, 2005.
Oreocarya fulvocanescens

Cryptantha fulvocanescens.  Synonym: Oreocarya fulvocanescens, Oreocarya nitida.   
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Nots)

Semi-desert, foothills.  Openings. Spring.  Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 5, 2009.

Cryptantha fulvocanescens shares the same habitat and many of the characteristics of the other Cryptanthas shown on this page.   All of these plants enjoy sunny, sandy/rocky soils and all bloom profusely for more than a month in the spring and early summer. Individual tubular flowers are quite tiny but are so massed that the plants are quite showy. 

As you can see in several of the photos on this page, it is common for the plants to show last year's dried flower stems and leaves.  Plants grow to almost a foot tall, depending on the moisture and soil conditions. 

"Fulvo" and "canescens", both Latin, refer to the plants color: "tawny" "becoming gray".
Oreocarya fulvocanescens

Cryptantha fulvocanescens.  Synonym: Oreocarya fulvocanescens, Oreocarya nitida.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Nots)

Semi-desert, foothills.  Openings. Spring.  The Hogback, New Mexico, April 24, 2007.

The three inch tall young plants shown at left probably grew to only six inches in the 2007 season.  In future years such small plants would expand their basal leaf masses to over a foot in diameter and continue to live and flower for many years.

 

Oreocarya fulvocanescens

Oreocarya fulvocanescens

Cryptantha fulvocanescens.  Synonym: Oreocarya fulvocanescens, Oreocarya nitida.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Nots)

Semi-desert, foothills.  Openings. Spring.  Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 5, 2009. The Hogback, New Mexico, April 24, 2007.
Oreocarya fulvocanescens

Cryptantha fulvocanescens.  Synonym: Oreocarya fulvocanescens, Oreocarya nitida.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Nots)

Semi-desert, foothills.  Openings. Spring.  McElmo Canyon, April 25, 2009.

The yellow projections are called "fornices" and are said to be a characteristic which helps to distinguish among species.  However, various botanical keys do not agree on the size of the fornices for the different species.
Oreocarya tenuis
Cryptantha tenuis.  Synonym: Oreocarya tenuis.
Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family)

Semi-desert. Canyonlands. Spring.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah, April 14, 2004.

This dainty Cryptantha grows only on the Colorado Plateau and only in sandy and rocky areas.  The flower is brilliantly white and eye-catching.  Leaves are linear to spatulate and quite hairy.

"Tenuis" is Latin for "slim, slender".

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Cryptantha flavoculata

Range map for Cryptantha fulvocanescens

Range map for Cryptantha tenuis  

WILDFLOWER HOME PAGE      SEARCH BY PLANT NAME     WHITE FLOWERS     CONTACT US