Torrey's cryptantha

Appearance

General:
Annual, the simple or branched stems 1-4 dm. tall, with short, stiff, spreading hairs.

Leaves:
Leaves linear to narrowly oblong, with sub-appressed, stiff hairs.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of naked spikes, usually elongate and paired; fruiting calyx 4-8 mm. long, the 5 lobes with stiff hairs; corolla white, inconspicuous, about 1 mm. wide; style surpassed by the nutlets.

Fruits:
Nutlets 4, ovate, acute, with rounded margins, 1.5-2.3 mm. long and 0.8-1.2 wide, smooth and shining, attached to the style.

Distribution

Widely distributed east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Montana.

Habitat

Open areas, low to mid-elevations in the mountains.