Taxon Report

Cryptantha pterocarya (Torr.) Greene var. stenoloba I. M. Johnst.

narrow-lobed cryptantha

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Cryptantha pterocarya var. stenoloba, commonly known as narrow-lobed cryptantha, is a annual herb in the Boraginaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Desert dunes, growing at elevations from 155 to 365 meters. Cryptantha pterocarya var. stenoloba is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Cryptantha pterocarya (Torr.) Greene var. stenoloba I. M. Johnst.
Common Name:	narrow-lobed cryptantha
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0A2E4
USDA Plants Symbol:	CRPTS
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	155-365 (510-1200)
General Habitats:	Desert dunes
Microhabitat:	Granitic, Gravelly, Rocky, Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G5T2T3
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 2B.1 on 2022-07-18

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arica Mountains (3411418), Gene Wash (3411432), Grommet (3411416), Rice (3411417), Roosevelt Mine (3311457)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	14 %
ORV activity	1	14%

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by urbanization, solar energy development, vehicles, non-native plants, and grazing.
Taxonomy:
Differs from other varieties of C. pterocarya in its narrow, elongate calyx lobes.

Selected References

Proposed Addition to California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, G5T2/S1

Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 20: 391 (1939)

Phytotaxa 253: 97–130

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 22 November 2025].