Taxon Report

Cryptantha rostellata (Greene) Greene

red-stemmed cryptantha

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Cryptantha rostellata, commonly known as red-stemmed cryptantha, is a annual herb in the Boraginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 40 to 800 meters. Cryptantha rostellata is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Cryptantha rostellata (Greene) Greene
Common Name:	red-stemmed cryptantha
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0A2M1
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	40-800 (130-2625)
General Habitats:	Cismontane woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Gravelly (often), Openings, Roadsides (often), Volcanic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 4.2 on 2018-06-26

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT), Colusa (COL), Napa (NAP), Shasta (SHA), Sutter (SUT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Chico (3912167), Dana (4112115), Honcut (3912135), Leesville (3912224), Sutter (3912126), Sutter Buttes (3912127), Walter Springs (3812263)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1(4A):203 (1886) for original description, and Pittonia 1(7):116 (1887) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2018-06-26

Cryptantha rostellata profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 November 2025].