This is a web site on the plant family Boraginaceae, subtribe Cryptanthinae Brand, A. in H.G.A. Engler, Nat. Pflanzenr. 97: 22. 27 Feb 1931. [Cryptantheae Brand, A. 1925. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 21: 249.], a group that currently includes five genera: Amsinckia, Cryptantha, Harpagonella, Pectocarya, and Plagiobothrys.
      The SDSU Plant Systematics Lab is working on the phylogenetic relationships of these taxa. We anticipate a number of nomenclatural changes in the future. Recent molecular work (Schwarzer 2007, Hasenstab 2009) has demonstrated that the taxa of this subtribe forms a natural, monophyletic group.

1. Mature nutlets spreading widely
    2. Sepals in fr very unequal, upper 2 >> others, partly fused, arched over 1 nutlet, ± bur-like, with 5-10 stout spines,
        each with hooked bristles, lower 3 sepals distinct; nutlets 2 ..................................................................................................... Harpagonella
    2' Sepals in fr ± equal or, if unequal, upper 2 > others, sepals without spines but with hooked or straight bristles, distinct,
        not arched over 1 nutlet; nutlets gen 4 .......................................................................................................................................... Pectocarya
1' Mature nutlets ± erect
    3. Corolla limb and tube bright yellow or orange
        4. Plant annual .............................................................................................................................................................................. Amsinckia
        4' Plant perennial ......................................................................................................................................................................... Cryptantha
    3' Corolla limb and tubes white to creamy yellow
        5. Nutlet wall grooved above scar, groove gen flared open to 2-forked base; scar gen recessed or depressed ............................ Cryptantha
        5' Nutlet wall keeled above scar; scar gen elevated ................................................................................................................. Plagiobothrys

Hasenstab, K. 2009. Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Cryptantha (Boraginaceae). Master of Science Thesis, San Diego State University,
    San Diego, California.
Hickman, J. C. (ed.). 1993. Boraginaceae key. In: The Jepson Manual Higher Plants of California. Pp. 366-367. University of California Press,
    Berkeley and Los Angeles.
Kelley, W. A. and D. Wilken. 1993. Cryptantha. In: J. C. Hickman (ed.). The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. Pp. 369-378.
    University of California Press, Berkeley.
Schwarzer, C. 2007. Systematische Untersuchungen an den peruanischen Vertretern der Gattungen Pectocarya D.C. ex Meisn., Amsinckia
    Lehm., Plagiobothrys Fisch. & C.A. Mey. und Cryptantha Lehm. ex G. Don (Boraginaceae). Dissertation: Biology Institut für Biologie
    Systematische Botanik und Pflanzengeographie, Freie Universität Berlin.