Scientific Family
Boraginaceae
Synonyms
Eritrichium barbigerum
Other common names
narrowleaf nievitas
bearded catseye
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
4 to 12 inches
Riparian
No
An erect plant with stems branched generally below the middle. The stem and leaves have densely spreading, bristly hairs. Branches are topped by scorpioid spikes of flowers.
Plants slender, bristly with mostly spreading hairs; fruits of 4 rounded mostly alike and roughened nutlets that enclose the style and sit on top of a dilated receptacle that is shorter than the nutlets; nutlets open longitudinally; flowers are erect.
Habitat
Found on desert sands, along arroyos and on hillsides.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5200
Flower Characteristics
The tubular flowers are in scorpioid spikes. Flowers are 5-parted and have a short tube. The ovary is generally 4-lobed.
Flower color
White to yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves and stem are bristly, with mostly spreading hairs. Leaves are 1 to 2 inches long and linear-oblong. The basal leaves are whorled; leaves on the stem are generally opposite below and alternate above.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Each flower produces 1 to 4 nutlets, all alike.
Fruit type
Nutlet
Fruit color
Green turning to brown