Taxon Report

Cryptantha spithamaea I.M. Johnston

Red Hills cryptantha

Print Report


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:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-May Apr-May
Elevation: 275-460 (900-1510)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat: Openings (sometimes), Serpentine, Streambanks (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status

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

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 6
California Endemic:  False
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

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:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2014-12-18
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 20 October 2025].