Illustration by Jeanne R Janish, From 

 'Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest' 



CRYPTANTHA FENDLERI 

 FENDLER CATS-EYE 



Fendler Cat's-eye is an annual with simple or branched stems that are 5-20 cm high. The alternate, narrow, strap shaped 

 leaves may be up to 3 cm long: those at the base are usually brown by the time the plant is fruiting. Foliage is sparsely 

 covered with spreading hairs. Tiny, white flowers are borne on coiled stalks that unwind and elongate as flowering 

 progresses from the base upward. The corolla is ca. 1 mm high and has a small, united portion below and 5 spreading 

 petals above. The calyx is covered with stiff, straight hairs and becomes 4-6 mm long in fruit. Within each fruiting calyx are 

 4 smooth, shiny, narrowly lance-shaped nutlets that are ca. 1.5 mm long and 1/3 as wide: 1 or more of these may be 

 missing. Flowering in May-early July. 



Annual species of CRYPTANTHA are distinguished by characters of the seeds. C. FENDLERI is distinguished by having 

 4 smooth, shinv nutlets that are lance-shaped and 1/3 as wide as the>' are long. A hand lens or microscope are needed for 

 positive identification. 



