Camissonia californica – California Suncup

Camissonia californica - California Suncup, Mustard Evening Primrose

Camissonia californica - California Suncup, Mustard Evening Primrose

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

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map