Plant Name
Scientific Name: Camissonia californica
Synonyms: Eulobus californicus, Oenothera leptocarpa
Common Names: California Suncup, Mustard Evening Primrose
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland areas below 4500 feet (1372 m) in elevation
Flower Color: Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring
Height: To 3 feet (91 cm) tall
Description: The flowers are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) across and have 4 petals and 4 reflexed (backward swept) sepals. The petals are often spotted with red at the base. The seed pods are slender and bent downward. The sparse stem leaves are linear, while the basal rosette leaves are wider and pinnately lobed.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae – Evening Primrose family
Genus: Camissonia Link – suncup
Species: Camissonia californica (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) P.H. Raven – California suncup
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