Camissoniopsis confusa
San bernardino sun cup
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Camissoniopsis confusa (San bernardino sun cup) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by inland montane habitat and robust gray annual habit.
San bernardino sun cup is a California native annual found in southwestern California in dry inland chaparral slopes at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with small basal spots, approximately 5 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with robust, erect stems up to 60 centimeters tall and covered in dense spreading gray hairs, it forms a distinctive rosette-like growth pattern. Its leaves are lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 10 to 50 millimeters long, with minutely dentate edges and nearly sessile attachment. The elongated fruit is cylindrical, 13 to 23 millimeters long, often drying with four distinct angles and typically one to two coils.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; distinguished by inland montane habitat and robust gray annual habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry inland slopes, generally chaparral
Elevation: 300-2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Ventura, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Camissoniopsis confusa blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissonia: Camissoniopsis flowers from base with four-angled fruits; Camissonia flowers from top with round fruits.; vs Oenothera: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Oenothera has round fruits and a distinctive 4-lobed cross-shaped stigma.; vs Taraxia: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits and flowers from base; Taraxia has round fruits.; vs Tetrapteron: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Tetrapteron has four-winged fruits.; vs Eulobus: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Eulobus has wand-like stems with red-flecked petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camissoniopsis confusa native to California?
Yes. Camissoniopsis confusa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Camissoniopsis confusa bloom?
Camissoniopsis confusa blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Camissoniopsis confusa grow?
Camissoniopsis confusa occurs in San Bernardino, Ventura, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, at elevations of 300-2000 m.
What plant family does Camissoniopsis confusa belong to?
Camissoniopsis confusa is in the Onagraceae family, genus Camissoniopsis.
What habitat does Camissoniopsis confusa grow in?
Camissoniopsis confusa grows in dry inland slopes, generally chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Camissoniopsis guadalupensis subsp. clementina — San clemente island evening-primrose
- Camissoniopsis hardhamiae — Hardham's evening-primrose
- Camissoniopsis hirtella — Hairy sun cup
- Camissoniopsis ignota — Jurupa hills sun cup
- Camissoniopsis intermedia — Intermediate sun cups
- Camissoniopsis lewisii — Lewis' evening-primrose
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.