Taxon Details

Cryptantha spithamaea

Red Hills cryptantha

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Taxon Summary:

Cryptantha spithamaea, commonly known as Red Hills cryptantha, is a annual herb in the Boraginaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 275 to 460 meters. Cryptantha spithamaea is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Cryptantha spithamaea I.M. Johnston
Common Name: Red Hills cryptantha
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0A2M2
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes: added to 1B.3 on 2014-12-18
Add Date:	2014-12-18
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Apr-May

Elevation:
275 - 460 meters
900 - 1510 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral
Cismontane woodland

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Openings (sometimes)
Serpentine
Streambanks (sometimes)

Notes

Notes: Similar to C. hispidula and C. mariposae. A synonym of C. flaccida in TJM (1993). See Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 20(3):385-386 for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	0
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	0	%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					6
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	0	0	0	0	6

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	6
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	6
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Calaveras (CAL), Mariposa (MPA), Tuolumne (TUO)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Angels Camp (3812015), Chinese Camp (3712074), Coulterville (3712062), Moccasin (3712073), New Melones Dam (3712085), Sonora (3712084)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory