DESERT NATURALIST Are You Sure It’s a Popcorn Flower? by Wayne P. Armstrong Th e borage family (Boraginaceae) includes many wildfl owers in the Colorado and Figure 2. Th ere is a slight resemblance Mojave deserts of North America. Th ey Figure 1. Plagiobothrys californicus between the tight, coiled fl ower clusters of typically have small white fl owers in var. fulvescens. Members of the genus Cryptantha intermedia (left) and Orville coiled infl orescences, and with stems Plagiobothrys are the true popcorn fl owers. Redenbacher’s Popcorn (right); however, and leaves covered in glistening hairs. Th e fl ower clusters with distinct yellow centers there is a big diff erence in taste! In tropical regions, this family includes (throats) resemble popcorn more than the hardwood trees (Cordia) with beautiful, fl owers of Cryptantha species. showy fl owers. Two of the most common scorpioid cymes. In my opinion, the fl ower In Plagiobothrys the nutlets have a keel genera in the Anza-Borrego desert region clusters of Plagiobothrys look a little more (ridge) above the elevated attachment are the so-called “popcorn fl owers” like popped grains of corn, technically scar. Cryptantha nutlets have a distinct Plagiobothrys and Cryptantha. DNA referred to as exploded endosperm. Th is is groove above the recessed attachment evidence indicates that root parasites of particularly true of spreading, low-growing scar. Depending on the species, the the genus Pholisma (Lennoaceae) and varieties of P. collinus, appropriately nutlets range in size from 0.5 to several members of the Hydrophyllaceae (Phacelia, named California popcorn fl ower. From a millimeters. For some extreme macro Nemophila, Nama, etc.) are closely related distance, the white fl ower clusters resemble images of nutlets on a black background, to the Boraginaceae. In the Jepson Manual popcorn scattered on grassland and open I took the pictures on a black range top 2nd Edition, Vascular Plants of California ground in coastal sage scrub. Resemblance with a digital SLR and ring fl ash. For a size (2012), these species are placed in the between Cryptantha and popcorn is slight relationship I used cubical grains of table borage family. (Figure 2). salt, about 0.3 mm on a side. Popcorn or White Forget-Me-Not? Knowing Your Nutlets Plants to Dye For Species of Cryptantha are often referred to To reliably separate the genus Cryptantha Stems and leaves of Plagiobothrys as white “forget-me-nots,” although some from Plagiobothrys you must carefully nothovulvus and P. arizonicus contain a people call them “popcorn fl owers.” I think examine the minute nutlets enclosed reddish dye that rubs off on your fi ngers. the latter common name is best applied within fi ve calyx lobes covered by Our common desert annual Cryptantha to members of the closely related genus glistening hairs (Figure 3 and Figure 4). micrantha (purple-rooted forget-me-not) Plagiobothrys (Figure 1). Both genera have Th is requires patience and a good 10x or also gives off this reddish dye. Several white corollas in tight coiled clusters called 20x hand lens or a dissecting microscope. members of the Boraginaceae are known

Figure 3. Nutlet of Plagiobothrys compared with Cryptantha. Figure 4. Comparison of the nutlets of California popcorn fl ower Plagiobothrys has a raised (elevated) attachment scar at the base of a (Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens) with the common “white ridge (keel). Cryptantha has a recessed attachment scar at the base of forget-me-not” (Cryptantha intermedia). Depending on the photo, a narrow groove. Th e bottom line here is: If your nutlet has a distinct I use grains of ordinary table salt for a size relationship in Wayne’s groove it is undoubtedly a Cryptantha. Word ultra-macro images. abdnha.org The Sand Paper | Early Spring 2012 | 3 for the deep red phenolic dye called Identifying alkannin (also spelled alkanet), including Cryptantha dyer’s bugloss (Alkanna tinctoria). It was As stated above, to used to dye textiles, and as a coloring identify a species of for vegetable oils, medicines and wine, Cryptantha you must and is commonly used today as a food observe the nutlets. coloring. In addition, it reportedly has Th ey can still be wound healing and anti-infl ammatory green, but they must properties. Th e term “bugloss” applies to be mature enough several species in the Boraginaceae with to show minute blue fl owers and hairy foliage. It is derived outer bumps called from a Greek word meaning ox-tongue in tubercles. Assuming reference to the rough, hairy leaves. you have eliminated Other Borage Family Annuals all other genera in Figure 5. Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula, a coastal comb bur that Th ere are other annuals in the the borage family, also grows in the Anza-Borrego desert. Th e barbed nutlets make Boraginaceae, such as Pectocarya and here are some of the eff ective little hitchhikers. questions presented Harpagonella with minute white fl owers nutlets have the shape of a tiny X. Each to you in taxonomic keys in Munz and in scorpioid cymes; however, they have nutlet is fringed with minute prickles the Jepson Manual: Do you have 1, 2 or very distinctive fruits (nutlets) that are (hairs) along the margins. If you spot a 4 nutlets? Are your nutlets roughened by much diff erent from Cryptantha and small annual in a sandy wash with tiny minute tubercles or are they smooth and Plagiobothrys. White or blue-fl owered X-shaped structures along its stem, it is shiny? Are all of your nutlets the same “forget-me-nots” (Myosotis) resemble most certainly a Pectocarya (Figure 5). To (homomorphic) or do you have dissimilar Cryptantha, but they are not native to identify the species, you need a mature nutlets (heteromorphic)? Are the margins San Diego County. Additional members nutlet. Th e coastal gabbro endemic called of your nutlets winged of knifelike with of the traditional Boraginaceae in the grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri) has thin edge, or are they rounded? Is the Anza-Borrego region include yellow a very unique fruit with barbed projections shape of your nutlets triangular-ovate or fi ddlenecks (Amsinckia), Heliotropium, radiating out in all directions. It has a oblong-lanceolate? and the low shrub Tiquilia (Coldenia). rating of 10 Sock Removal Diffi culty Units Two Mediterranean genera (Borago and Th ere are other questions about the style (SRDUs), surpassed only by the ultimate Echium) are commonly cultivated in San length related to nutlets, size of fl owers hitchhiker from Madagascar (Uncarina Diego County. Th eir beautiful blue fl owers (diameter of corolla limb) and details grandidieri). Th e latter species belongs to are used for soothing and medicinal teas in of the glistening hairs (trichomes) on the sesame family (Pedaliaceae) along with Iran, Pakistan and India. Th e “stickseeds” the calyx. For example, if you spot a our devil’s claws (Proboscidea). (Hackelia and Lappula) occur outside Cryptantha in Coyote Creek with a large References San Diego county. Nutlets with barbed calyx 10 mm in length, long trichomes prickles, make them eff ective hitchhikers. with bulbous bases, and one shiny, Chester, Tom 2009. “Key To Cryptantha In fact, I gave Hackelia fl oribunda a smooth nutlet it is undoubtedly the rare Species Of Borrego Desert.” Available rating of 4 Sock Removal Diffi culty Units and endangered C. ganderi, named after online at: http://tchester.org/bd/species/ (SRDUs) on my Wayne’s Word Top 17 the famous San Diego naturalist Frank boraginaceae/cryptantha.html. Hitchhiking Plants. Gander. Another similar-appearing species Simson, Mike 2009. “Cryptantha I once camped on the western slope of in Coyote Creek, C. barbigera, typically Taxonomy & Images.” Available online at: has four tubercled nutlets. Mike Simpson’s the Panamint Range, Inyo County on http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/cryptantha/ Cryptantha page at SDSU has marvelous a very cold winter night. I was fi nally index.html. forced to climb out of my camper shell images of all 22 species native to San at midnight and put on long underwear. Diego County. Tom Chester has prepared Armstrong, W.P. 1998. “Ultimate & Unfortunately, I stood in a patch of a nice key to Cryptanthas of Anza-Borrego Painful Hitchhikers.” Available online at: stickseed during this clothing transfer arranged in an easy to follow table (See http://waynesword.palomar.edu.plmay98. resulting in one of the most miserable links in References). htm. nights I ever spent in my entire life. Could Be a Pectocarya Ironically, I was seeking another serious Th e comb burs (Pectocarya) are common in hitchhiker, the pink-fl owered Arizona the Anza-Borrego Desert. Like Cryptantha devil’s claw (Proboscidea parvifl ora), and Plagiobothrys, they have minute white reportedly introduced high in the fl owers; however, the nutlets are very Panamint Range in the late 1800s by the diff erent. Th e four spreading (divergent) legendary Shoshone named Hungry Bill.

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