WILDFLOWERS OF NEW MEXICO

Clusters of basal leaves from a woody base produce densely hairy stems 5–16-inches tall with compact, rounded clusters of small, buttery-yellow flowers. Bristly hairs cover the entire plant.

FLOWERS: April–August. Blooming from a base (calyx) of bristly hairy bracts, 5 petals united at the base form a tube 3/8–1/2-inch long (9–12 mm) that spreads open into 5 yellow petal-like limbs 1/4–1/2-inch wide (7–11 mm), with yellow scales (fornices) around the throat. Each flower produces 1 (rarely 2) lance-shaped nutlet, 3.4–4.2 mm long.

LEAVES: Opposite below, alternate above. Blades densely slivery-hairy, 3/4–3 1/2-inches long (2–9 cm), 1/8–3/8-inch wide (3–8 mm), linear with pointed tips, entire margins.

HABITAT: Sandy, rocky soils; desert shrub, sagebrush, shortgrass prairie, pinyon-juniper woodlands.

ELEVATION: 3,500–7,500 feet.

RANGE: AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY.

SIMILAR SPECIES: This is the only yellow Cryptantha in NM.

NM COUNTIES: Central and nw NM in low- to mid-elevation, dry habitats: Bernalillo, Lincoln, McKinley, Rio Arriba, San Juan, Sandoval, Socorro, Valencia.