Cryptantha (7)

Plants in the Cryptantha genus are commonly known as Cat's Eyes. They have tiny white flowers with a yellow center and have rough hairs on the whole plant. They produce nutlets that vary in size, shape and color and are used for identification. These are differentiated by their growth habit and location.

Cryptantha flavoculata

Roughseed Cryptantha
Cryptantha flavoculata (Oreocarya flavoculata)

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA: Cat's Eye
Photo taken on: May 9, 2005
Location: Almont Triangle, CO
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry meadows

Grows in clumps to 8" high covered with hairs. The tiny white flowers have a touch of yellow in the center.

Cryptantha jamesii

James' Cryptantha
Cryptantha cinerea var. jamesii

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA: James' Hiddenflower, James' Cat's Eye
Photo taken on: May 15, 2009
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Disturbed sandy, rocky areas, roadsides

Grows to 12" covered with hairs. Flowers are tiny and grow in S-shaped clusters.

Cryptantha pterocarya

Wingnut Cryptantha
Cryptantha pterocarya

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: June 25, 2010
Location: Bandelier Nat Mon, NM
Life Zones: Plains
Habitat: Pinyon-juniper woodlands

Grows to 20" but is often shorter under trees. It is tall and slender compared to other Cryptanthas but it is also hairy and the flower is similar, tiny and white.

Cryptantha fulvocanescens

Tawny Cryptantha
Cryptantha fulvocanescens (Oreocarya fulvocanescens)

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA: Tawny Cat's Eye
Photo taken on: April 26, 2010
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry areas, waste ground

Grows to 6" in clumps with gray stems and bristly leaves. It grows in similar habitat to Thicksepal Cryptantha below but is a bit taller and has larger flowers.

Cryptantha crassisepala

Thicksepal Cryptantha
Cryptantha crassisepala var. elachantha

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA: Bractless Cryptantha, Thicksepal Cats Eye
Photo taken on: April 26, 2014
Location: Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry areas, waste ground

Grows to 4" in clumps with bristly stems and leaves. The flowers have no bracts. It produces four nutlets, one of which is taller than the others.

Cryptantha minima

Little Cryptantha
Cryptantha minima

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA: Little Cat's-eye, Small Cryptantha
Photo taken on: May 9, 2016
Location: CR 142, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry areas, woodlands

A tiny plant with flowers ⅛" across. Very similar to Thicksepal Cryptantha growing in similar habitat but the flowers have bracts. It produces four nutlets, one of which is totally smooth.

Cryptantha fendleri

Sand Dune Cryptantha
Cryptantha fendleri

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
AKA:  Sand Dune Cat's Eye
Photo taken on: July 19, 2018
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Sandy areas in sagebrush habitat

Grows 4" to 20" high with a single erect stem branching above and narrow leaves. Flowers are ⅛" across and grow in tight, coiled clusters which elongate and straighten as the plant matures. It produces four smooth shiny nutlets.

White/Cream Round Clusters