Cryptantha torreyana (A. Gray) Greene
Torrey's cryptantha
Boraginaceae (Borage family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #13961)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Cryptantha torreyana
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems simple or branched, with straight, appressed and spreading, stiff hairs, 10-40 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves smaller, withering; stem leaves linear to narrowly oblong, 0.3-3 cm long, uniformly hairy with somewhat appressed to spreading hairs, entire, alternate.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of naked, coiled "spikes", tending to be paired, typically raised somewhat above the leafier part of the plant; petals white, fused at base into a tube that spreads (about 1 mm wide) at the top to 5 tiny lobes, with 5 bulges at the throat; fruiting calyces 4-8 mm long, stiffly appressed-hairy and spreading-bristly.
Fruits:
Nutlets 4, clustered together, 1.5-2.3 mm long, egg-shaped, usually smooth and shining, with medial groove forked and closed at base.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Cryptantha torreyana

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1237 915 1480
Slope Gradient (%)
46 15 65

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

207 182 240
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 1 2
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
7
Modal BEC Zone Class
MS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

ICH(2), IDF(2), MS(3)

Habitat and Range

Dry to mesic rocky slopes, grasslands and shrublands in the lowland and steppe zones; infrequent in SC BC and on S Vancouver Island; S to UT, WY and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Cryptantha calycosa (A. Gray) Rydb.
Cryptantha eastwoodiae H. St. John
Cryptantha flexulosa (A. Nelson) A. Nelson
Cryptantha torreyana var. calycosa (A. Gray) Greene
Cryptantha torreyana var. pumila (A. Heller) I.M. Johnst.