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BORAGINACEAE, Borage Family

Borage family members found in Anza-Borrego include:

Narrow-Leaf Cryptantha (Cryptantha angustifolia)
Bearded Cryptantha (Cryptantha barbigera)
Nievitas Cryptantha (Cryptantha intermedia)
White-Hair Cryptantha (Cryptantha maritima)
Purple-Root Cryptantha (Cryptantha micrantha)
Prickly Cryptantha (Cryptantha muricata)
Nevada Cryptantha (Cryptantha nevadensis)
Scented Cryptantha (Cryptantha utahenis)

Rancher's Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia)
Rigid Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
Checker Fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata)

Chuckwalla Pectocarya (Pectocarya heterocarpa)

Arizona Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys arizonicus)
Jones' Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys jonesii)

The Boraginaceae constitute one of Anza-Borrego's more common plant families, yet individual species are little known and often difficult to identify.

Many Boraginaceae are toxic. Many are small and are best studied with a magnifying glass or microscope. In addition, many Boraginaceae genera consist of speciies with differences that are so subtle that positive identification almost has to be made with a reference book.