Camissonia cheiranthifolia

Taxobox | name = "Beach suncup"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Camissonia cheiranthifolia"
regnum = Plantae
phylum = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Myrtales
familia = Onagraceae
genus = "Camissonia"
species = "C. cheiranthifolia"
binomial = "Camissonia cheiranthifolia"
binomial_authority = Spreng.

"Camissonia cheiranthifolia" (Beach Suncup or Beach Evening Primrose) is a member of the Evening Primrose ("Camissonia") genus native to open dunes and sandy soils of coastal California and Oregon. The genus Camissonia was distinguisned from Oenothera relatively recently, so this species was formerly known as "Oenothera californica".

The Beach suncup grows prostrate along the beach surface, forming mats more than 1 m. across. It forms long stems growing from a central crown, lined with silvery grey-green leaves. The prostrate form and swinging stems allow the plant to survive well on the windy, shifting sands of the coast. The four-petalled flowers open in the morning (typical among suncups) and are bright yellow, fading to reddish.

The two subspecies are:

* "Camissonia cheiranthifolia" (Spreng.) Raim. subsp. "cheiranthifolia"
* "Camissonia cheiranthifolia" (Spreng.) Raim. subsp. "suffruticosa" (S. Watson) P. H. Raven

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?5263,5264,5288 Jepson Manual Treatment]