

Sun cup
Botanical name: Camissonia
Sun cup
Botanical name: Camissonia


Description

Sun cup is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the evening primrose family Onagraceae. A total of 12 species are known, nearly all from western North America, especially in the California Floristic Province, but also one from South America. The flowers generally open at dawn, and may be yellow, white, or lavender, often with darker shades at the base. They are usually cup-shaped, thus the common name. The species of sun cup are distinguished by having a club- or head-shaped stigma, instead of the 4-part-divided stigma of Oenothera or Clarkia.


Species of Sun cup


Sandysoil suncup
Sandysoil suncup (Camissonia strigulosa) is an herbaceous annual that is native to California in the U.S. and some surrounding areas. It is commonly found growing in sandy soil on beaches and in the Mojave Desert. It blooms from spring to summer with bright yellow flowers that grow on red stems.

Plains evening primrose
Plains evening primrose is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the evening primrose family Onagraceae. A total of 12 species are known, nearly all from western North America, especially in the California Floristic Province, but also one from South America. The flowers generally open at dawn, and may be yellow, white, or lavender, often with darker shades at the base. They are usually cup-shaped, thus the common name. The species of plains evening primrose are distinguished by having a club- or head-shaped stigma, instead of the 4-part-divided stigma of Oenothera or Clarkia.

Mojave suncup
Mojave suncup is found only in the Mojave desert of California, growing predominantly on wide, sandy flats at altitudes up to 2000 meters. It is known as the suncup because of its attractive, bright yellow flowers. These four-petaled blossoms have a red spot at the base and change with age from yellow to reddish-orange.

Camissonia tanacetifolia subsp. tanacetifolia
Camissonia tanacetifolia subsp. tanacetifolia is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the evening primrose family Onagraceae. A total of 12 species are known, nearly all from western North America, especially in the California Floristic Province, but also one from South America. The flowers generally open at dawn, and may be yellow, white, or lavender, often with darker shades at the base. They are usually cup-shaped, thus the common name. The species of camissonia tanacetifolia subsp. tanacetifolia are distinguished by having a club- or head-shaped stigma, instead of the 4-part-divided stigma of Oenothera or Clarkia.

Sun cup
Sun cup is a showy wildflower that's often encountered in grassy fields along the coasts of western North America. Though the plant is fairly small, it is easily spotted in spring, when it blooms with eye-catching, bright yellow flowers. Ants have been known to bury and spread its seeds.




Scientific Classification
