Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Prostrate or decumbent annual with several rather coarse stems 10-25 cm long, from slender taproot, herbage hispid throughout.

Leaves: Not developing a distinct rosette, lowermost commonly opposite, upper ones alternate, blades linear to linear-oblong, 2-3 cm long, acute or obtuse at apex.

Flowers: Borne throughout length of stems, even in axils of basal leaves; calyx lobes narrowly linear-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm long, somewhat spreading in fruit; corolla white, minute.

Fruits: Nutlets 4, ovoid, finely wrinkled and finely roughed, keeled both dorsally and ventrally.

Ecology: Found on arid plains, sandy mesas, and hillsides from 1,000-4,500 ft (305-1372 m); flowers February-April.

Notes: Long striped nutlets is unique among the borages. Of conservation concern in Arizona.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Plagiobothrys is derived from Greek plagios, oblique or placed sideways, and bothros, a pit or scar, pringlei is named for Cyrus Guernsey Pringle (1838-1911).

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010