Cryptantha virgata (Porter) Payson

A conspicuous and common Cryptantha in the Front Range of Colorado and in adjacent southeastern Wyoming, generally in ponderosa and Douglas fir woodland. Unlike most Cryptantha, C. virgata has a conspicuous basal rosette and tall, narrow, wand-like inflorescence; in habit it is rather like a small Frasera speciosa.

Plant habit along the Goose Creek Trail in the Tarryall Mountains, Jefferson County, Colorado, 15 Jul 2011.

Flowers along the Goose Creek Trail, 15 Jul 2011.

Closer view of a portion of the inflorescence along the Goose Creek Trail, 15 Jul 2011. Each branch of the inflorescence is very short but, as is typical in Cryptantha, helicoid.

Immature nutlets along the Goose Creek Trail, 15 Jul 2011.

As above, but with two of the nutlets removed to show the attachment scar on the style, Goose Creek Trail, 15 Jul 2011.