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Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Annual Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Cushion Cryptantha (arrows) in typical habitat

General: Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) is a small, mound-shaped annual forb with small leaves and tiny white flowers. Each leaf has a spine on the tip.

Cushion Cryptantha can be a common component of desert vegetation communities on sandy and gravel soils in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats), Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zones. It can also be found in higher life zones.

Family: Borage (Boraginaceae).

Plant Form: low, compact mound; spiny.

Height: Usually about 2 inches, to 6 inches.

Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Tiny white flowers and spine-tipped leaves

Stems: None.

Leaves: To about 3/4-inch long, narrow; bristly with a spine on the tip.

Flowers: Tiny, white; tubular with 5 petals.

Habitat: Sandy and rocky desert soils.

Elevation: To about 11,000 feet.

Distribution: California to Washington, Wyoming, and Arizona.

Comments:

Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)
Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa) Cushion Cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 141117

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