Onagraceae: Evening-primrose Family — Suncups, Primroses and others

Most members of the Evening-Primrose family have 4-petaled flowers, and many of them are showy.  Despite the name, they do not necessarily bloom in the evening.  There is a separate family called Primrose (Primulaceae).

This page includes two genera (Camissonia and Camissoniopsis) which used to be in the same genus, but have now been separated.  There are three differences between them.  Camissonia has more or less straight fruits, cauline leaves only, and its flowers are on the uppermost nodes; while Camissoniopsis generally has coiled fruits, basal and cauline leaves, and its flowers are on nodes along the whole stem.  Individual members of these two genera can be hard to distinguish.  Pay attention to the types of hairs, possible presence of glands, and possible presence of small red spots at the base of the petals.

Contorted Suncup / Primrose – Camissonia contorta

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

3–30 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Open grassland on dry, loose soil

Notes:

Despite its name, the petals of this suncup are straight to wavy, not contorted.  It is similar to Sandysoil Suncup (Camissonia strigulosa, see below).  But it can be distinguished by its blue-green leaves, and by the hairs on its stem, which are spreading rather than appressed.  The small, bright yellow flowers have tiny red dots at the base of the petals, and are similar in appearance (if not size) to the other suncups.  Also, the way the sepals are folded back from the petals is typical for this family.

Sandysoil Suncup – Camissonia strigulosa

Blooms:

May–June

Plant Height:

< 50 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Dunes & other sandy soil

Notes:

This is very similar to Contorted Suncup (Camissonia contorta, see above) but a little taller.  It can be distinguished by its green (rather than blue-green) leaves, also by the hairs on its stem, which are short and appressed (rather than spreading).

Beach Evening-primrose – Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia

Blooms:

Apr–Aug

Plant Height:

Stems < 60 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Dunes & coastal strand

Notes:

This plant is found on or near coastal sand dunes.  Its flowers are similar to those of the Camissonia species (see above), but somewhat larger.  They are 2–4 cm across, located at the tips of the stems.  Leaves are narrowly ovate to obovate and hairy.  There is usually a basal rosette of leaves.  Stems are creeping, leafy and reddish in color.  Fruits are also reddish and noticeably 4-angled.  Photos #1, 3 and 4 by CJH.

Evening-primrose, Beach
Evening-primrose, Beach
Evening-primrose, Beach

Intermediate Suncup – Camissoniopsis intermedia

Blooms:

Mar–May

Plant Height:

< 60 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Shrubby slopes, often after fires

Notes:

This belongs to a group of small-flowered suncups that can be challenging to distinguish.  Its flowers have 1 or 2 red spots at the base of the petals, unlike Hairy Suncup (Camissoniopsis hirtella, not shown).  Also, the hairs of the inflorescence are glandular, unlike Miniature Suncup (Camissoniopsis micrantha, see below). Its fruits are 1–2 mm wide and straight to 1-coiled.

Miniature Suncup – Camissoniopsis micrantha

Blooms:

Mar–May

Plant Height:

< 60 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Coastal dunes and other sandy places

Notes:

This belongs to a group of small-flowered suncups that can be challenging to distinguish.  Its flowers have 1 or 2 red spots at the base of the petals (not always present).  Also, the hairs of the inflorescence are not glandular, unlike Intermediate Suncup (Camissoniopsis intermedia, see above).  The plant is generally densely spreading-hairy.  Its fruits are about 1–2 mm wide, and straight to 1-coiled.  Photo #3 by CJH.

Suncup, Miniature

Shredding Primrose – Eremothera boothii subsp. decorticans

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

< 180 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Disturbed slopes & flats inland

Notes:

The pink and white coloring of the flowers of this primrose are unusual.  The flowers are borne in clusters at the tips of slender, branching peduncles,  Leaves are green or red-tinged, lanceolate to narrowly ovate.

Mustard-like Primrose – Eulobus californicus

Blooms:

Apr–June

Plant Height:

< 180 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Open places in scrub & chaparral

Notes:

The 1–2.5 cm flowers with their swept-back sepals are immediately recognizable as belonging to the Evening-primrose family.  They are borne on slender wand-like stems.  The long (45–110 cm), slender fruits are reflexed like those of certain mustards, hence the plant’s common name.  Found only in the far east and south of Monterey County, though more common further south.

Uruguayan Primrose-willow – Ludwigia hexapetala

Blooms:

May-Dec

Plant Height:

< 2 m

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Central and South America

Habitat:

Shallow fresh water, and shorelines

Notes:

This is an invasive, aquatic subshrub.  It grows in mats, with thick white, spongy roots visible at floating nodes.   On wet land, it creeps or stands erect, often climbing on other plants.  Flowers are yellow with 5 or 6 petals, leaves are willow-like.  Photo by CJH.

Primrose-willow, Uruguayan

Hooker’s Evening-primrose – Oenothera elata subsp. hookeri

Blooms:

June–Sept

Plant Height:

< 120 cm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Moist places, ocean bluffs, disturbed areas

Notes:

This is a classic evening-primrose, with its large, bright yellow flowers, strongly reflexed sepals and long, pointed buds.  Stems are conspicuously leafy.  Flowers open in late afternoon, and bloom until the following morning, when they wilt and turn orange to reddish.  Photos #1 and 3 by CJH.

Evening-primrose, Hooker's
Evening-primrose, Hooker's

Suncups / Golden Eggs – Taraxia ovata

Blooms:

Mar–June

Plant Height:

< 10 cm

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Grassy meadows near coast

Notes:

This is a low-growing plant, widespread in grassy areas in early spring.  It has a dense basal rosette of oval to lanceolate leaves, with prominent pale central veins, and bright lemon-yellow flowers with 8 long stamens.  What appears to be a long pedicel is actually a sterile extension of the ovary, protecting the fertile ovary from the unwanted attentions of grazing animals.  Photos #2 – 4 by CJH.

Suncups
Suncups
Suncups

Slender-flowered Primrose / Hill Suncup – Tetrapteron graciliflorum

Blooms:

Mar–April

Plant Height:

Prostrate

Flower Size:

Large

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Open or shrubby slopes in grassland.

Notes:

A low-growing plant, like Suncups (Taraxia ovata, see above), and with similar flowers.  The stem is very short (< 25 mm), and the seeds are 4-winged (hence the plant’s scientific name).  It is most easily recognized by its narrow, linear or oblanceolate leaves.  The plant is densely spreading-hairy.  Most often found in the interior and south of the county, though also present on Fort Ord.