Photo of a Cryptantha plant with white flowers

Borage Family, Boraginaceae

The Boraginaceae constitute one of Anza-Borrego's more common plant families, yet individual species are are little known and often difficult to identify. Fiddleneck (Amsinckia), Cryptantha (shown above), and Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys) are among the better-known genera. Others are Heliotropium, Pectocarya, and Tiquilia.

Many Boraginaceae are toxic. Many are small and are best studied with a magnifying glass or microscope. In addition, many Boraginaceae genera consist of speciies with differences that are so subtle that positive identification almost has to be made with a reference book.

Flowers growing out of coiled stems are a characteristic of this family. In this regard, plants of the Borage Family resemble plants of the Waterleaf Family.