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Cryptantha gracilis

Osterhout

Narrow-stem Cat's-eye

G5Secure Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154707
Element CodePDBOR0A140
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderLamiales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusCryptantha
Other Common Names
narrowstem cryptantha (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-03-06
Change Date1988-02-24
Edition Date2026-03-06
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Cryptantha gracilis is a wide-ranging annual herb found in a variety of dry, open habitats, including grassy slopes, mixed desert scrub, sagebrush steppe, Joshua-tree woodland, juniper or pinyon-juniper woodland, and ponderosa pine forest openings. It is endemic to the western United States from central Washington, southern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming, south to western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, and eastern California. There are over 300 occurrences, which face threats from conversion of habitat to agriculture, grazing, roadside and powerline rights-of-way maintenance, off-road vehicles, military exercises, and competition from invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Cryptantha gracilis is endemic to the western United States from central Washington, southern Idaho, and southwestern Wyoming, south to western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, and eastern California (Heil and O'Kane 2025, Giblin and Legler 2026, Jepson Flora Project 2026, OSU 2026, Washington Field Guide 2026). Range extent was estimated to be over 1 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species faces threats from conversion of habitat to agriculture, grazing, roadside and powerline rights-of-way maintenance, off-road vehicles, military exercises, and competition from invasive species, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species rangewide (NatureServe 2026, Washington Field Guide 2026). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cryptantha gracilis grows in dry, sandy, silty, clayey, to rocky soils, grassy slopes, mixed desert scrub, sagebrush steppe, Joshua-tree woodland, juniper or pinyon-juniper woodland, and ponderosa pine forest openings (Giblin and Legler 2026, Jepson Flora Project 2026, OSU 2026, Washington Field Guide 2026).

Reproduction

This taxon flowers from March to June (Jepson Flora Project 2026).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS2Yes
UtahSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
NevadaS4Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
New MexicoSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS2Yes
WyomingS1Yes
IdahoSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6.2 - War, civil unrest & military exercisesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (6)
California (6)
AreaForestAcres
Andrews Mtn.Inyo National Forest9,912
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
References (11)
  1. Giblin, D.E., and B.S. Legler (eds.). 2003+. WTU Image Collection Web Site: Vascular Plants, MacroFungi, & Lichenized Fungi of Washington State. University of Washington Herbarium. Online. Available: http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  3. Heil, K.D., and S.L. O'Kane. 2025. Vascular plants of New Mexico. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. 1119 pp.
  4. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  5. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2026. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2026).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  8. Oregon State University (OSU). 2026. Oregon Flora website. Oregon State University Herbarium at Oregon State University. Online. Available: https://oregonflora.org/ (accessed 2026).
  9. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  10. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).
  11. Washington Field Guides. 2026. Online. Available: https://fieldguide.mt.gov/wa/ (accessed 2026).