Western Forget-me-not
Cryptantha circumscissa
Color: White
Common name: Western Forget-me-not, cushion catseye
Latin name: Cryptantha circumscissa
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Height: < 4 inches
Description: Tiny 5-part flowers that often occur in coiled, spike-like clusters; cushion-like; taproot generally red, purple when dry. Stem: bristly or rough-hairy; much-branched throughout, with stiff, straight, sharp hairs. Inflorescence: flowers 1–5 per cluster.
Leaf: 0.3–1.5 cm, linear to narrowly oblanceolate ((lance-shaped, with the broad end at the top)) bristly to rough-hairy.
Range: Sierra Nevada, s San Joaquin Valley, Inner South Coast Ranges, e South Coast, Transverse Ranges, e Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert
Habitat: Sandy soils
Elevation: 300–3700 m.
Flowering time: Jul–Aug
Notes: Photographed May 1, 2005 in the Mojave desert north of Barstow (San Bernardino County, Calif. A dicot, it is an annual herb that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Distribution outside California: to Washington, Colorado; also in s S. America.
There are several species of Cryptantha that occur in the Mojave Desert and even the most experienced botanists may have trouble identifying them.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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The Desert Environment
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