Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia  (Torrey) Constance var. chrysanthemifolia   =Ellisia chrysanthemifolia   Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family)   Native   Common Eucrypta

                                        March Photo

Plant Characteristics: Annual, erect, branched, 2-5 dm. tall somewhat hirsute and glandular, with characteristic rather pleasant odor; lvs. 3-10 cm. long, broadly ovate to oblong in outline, pinnatifid, the 9-13 lance oblong lobes again 1-2 pinnatifid; lvs. short-petioled or subsessile, auriculate at base; fls. loosely clustered, 8-15 per branch; calyx pilose and finely pubescent, the lobes 1-2 mm. long, obtuse, yellowish white; corolla yellowish-white, open-campanulate, 6-8 mm. broad; caps. 2-4 mm. in diam., hirsute, the inner seeds 1-1.5 mm. long, the outer 0.8-1 mm.

Habitat:  Common on burns and in partly shaded places, below 3000 ft.; Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, Oak Wd.; L. Calif. through cismontane Calif. to Marin Co., Channel Ids.  March-June.

Name:  Greek, eu, well or true, and crypta, secret, referring to the extra, hidden seeds.  Chrysanthemifolia was given because the foliage resembles that of the chrysanthemum.  (Dale 123).

General:  Common in the study area.  Abundant on the shaded banks between the Dunes and San Joaquin Hills Rd.   Photographed there. (my comments).  Eucrypta is particularly abundant and very noticeable after burns when it densely covers large areas.  (Dale 123).     Two species in the genus.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 498).

Text Ref:  Dale 122; Hickman, Ed. 686; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 498; Roberts 26.

Photo Ref:  Mar 2 85 # 17.18; Mar-April 88 #14A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  March 1985.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 60.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 12/26/04.  

                                March Photo                                                                      March Photo