[Cryptanth: The Genus Cryptantha East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Clearwater Cat's Eye, Clearwater Cryptantha, Common Cryptanth, Common Cryptantha, Large-flowered Cryptantha

Cryptantha intermedia var. intermedia

Synonym: Cryptantha fragilis

Common cryptantha as seen at the edge of alkaline flats lining shallow ponds and in swales on slopes leading up to some low mesas at the southeastern corner of Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge..........June 10, 2016. Note: Without a closer look at the number of surface of the nutlets, this could be C. grandiflora or C. intermedia var. hendersonii.

Characteristics:

Common cryptantha is an annual wildflower with simple to branched stems from 5-50 cm high. The herbage consists of rough, spreading to appressed hairs on the stems, leaves and calyx. A rosette of basal leaves is lacking, although a pair of basal leaves may be seen. Often these wither by the time flowers develop. The leaves alternate along the stem and are line, linear oblanceolate, or narrowly oblong in shape. They measure up to 3-5 cm long and become reduced in size upwards on the stem.

The spikes are found at the end of the stem or side-branches. They are tightly coiled at first but elongate to 5-10 cm long. The calyx lobes are densely covered with long, stiff, spreading hairs as seen in the photos and measures 4-7 mm long in fruit. The corolla is fairly large and showy with the tube 3-4 mm long and the limb 5-6 mm wide. The corolla begins entirely white and then develops a yellow ring around the throat after pollination. The 1-2 nutlets are about 2.5 mm long and broadly ovoid in shape with a smooth, shinging surface and narrow ventral groove that is forked at the base.

Habitat:

Common cryptantha may be found on dry, open slopes at low to medium elevations.

Range:

Common cryptantha may be found on both sides of the Cascade Mts. from southern British Columbia south to California and east across Washington and Oregon to western Idaho.

Several close-up images of common cryptantha as seen on steep slopes above the John Day River along Oregon Highway 19 at milepost #80 in central Oregon.........April 8, 2007. Note: Without a closer look at the number of surface of the nutlets, this could be C. grandiflora or C. intermedia var. hendersonii.

The photo above shows a close-up of the flowers of common cryptantha as seen on steep slopes above the John Day River along Oregon Highway 19 at milepost #80 in central Oregon..........April 8, 2007. The base of each petal turns yellow upon pollination. Note: Without a closer look at the number of surface of the nutlets, this could be C. grandiflora or C. intermedia var. hendersonii.

Paul Slichter