Camissonia parvula
Lewis river suncup
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Camissonia parvula (Lewis river suncup) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by glabrous habit and small sepals.
Lewis river suncup is a California native annual found in the Great Basin bioregion in sandy sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers that fade to reddish, with petals 1.8 to 4 millimeters long. Growing with slender, wiry erect stems less than 30 centimeters tall and appearing nearly hairless, it has a delicate, sparse appearance. Its leaves are narrow and linear, measuring 10 to 30 millimeters long and nearly entire. The fruit is elongated, 20 to 30 millimeters long and slightly swollen with seeds, sometimes appearing straight or slightly wavy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; glabrous habit and small sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, generally sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1000-2000 m
Outside California: to Washington, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Camissonia parvula blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Camissonia flowers from top with round fruits; Camissoniopsis flowers from base with four-angled fruits.; vs Eulobus: Camissonia has plain yellow petals; Eulobus has elegant wands with red flecks at petal bases.; vs Chylismia: Camissonia has narrow leaves up the stem; Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves.; vs Taraxia: Camissonia flowers from upper stem; Taraxia flowers open from ground level at night.; vs Eschscholzia: Camissonia has four petals and cylindrical fruits; Eschscholzia has dissected leaves and poppy-like flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camissonia parvula native to California?
Yes. Camissonia parvula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Camissonia parvula bloom?
Camissonia parvula blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Camissonia parvula belong to?
Camissonia parvula is in the Onagraceae family, genus Camissonia.
What habitat does Camissonia parvula grow in?
Camissonia parvula grows in Sandy soils, generally sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.