Summary ⁶

Cryptantha crassisepala, common name thicksepal catseye, is an annual forb that is native to the Southwestern United States.

Botanical Information ⁷

Cryptantha crassisepala is known commonly as thicksepal cryptantha, cryptantha, or cat's eye. Cryptantha belongs to the borage family. This plant can be 2 to 6 inches when fully grown. Cryptantha is a plant that looks like a little cactus because of all the long hairs all over it and has many small white flowers on it. An interesting fact is that the name Cryptantha crassiespala comes from the presence of the little flowers that appear hidden.

Ecological Information ⁸

Cryptantha grows in full sun and sandy soils in woodlands and semi-desert areas. A popular area where this plant likes to grow and is native to is the Southwestern United States. Cryptantha grows in the bosque and is native to New Mexico.

Ethnobotanical Information ⁹

Cryptantha has been used medicinally by the Hopi, Navajo Nation in Kayenta, and Zuni Pueblo according to documents in the Native American Ethnobotany Database. The plant could be used to relieve swelling, stimulate fatigued limbs, and to help with itching. The crushed leaves are used as a hot infusion or lotion that is placed on the affected area. The Western Keres Nation viewed Cryptantha as a poisonous weed. (Note: Ethnobotanical reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.) The tiny hairs on this plant can be irritating to the touch.

References ¹⁰

Native American Ethnobotany Database. (n.d.). Cryptantha crassisepala.
Retrieved August 5, 2021, from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/1149/

Schneider, A. (n.d). Cryptanthas. Southwest Colorado Wildflower. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from
https://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/White%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/cryptantha.htm

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Cryptantha crassisepala. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved August 5, 2021, from https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=CRCR3

About the Author ⁹

Student author(s)*: David and Mario (age 13) from South Valley Academy

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

1. (c) J. N. Stuart, all rights reserved, uploaded by J. N. Stuart, http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartwildlife/3452867999/
2. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/14325142975/
3. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/33891889034/
4. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/27773547136/
5. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/22319437374/
6. Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptantha_crassisepala
7. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) kristen_himm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
8. Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
9. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
10. Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) kristen_himm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

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