Camissoniopsis pallida
Pale yellow sun cup
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Camissoniopsis pallida (Pale yellow sun cup) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family.
Pale yellow sun cup is a California native annual found in low-elevation open areas, characterized by its grayish appearance and densely strigose surfaces. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with one to three basal petal spots in delicate clusters. Growing with decumbent or erect stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it develops narrow lance-elliptic leaves 10 to 30 millimeters long with nearly entire or minutely dentate edges. Its leaves are arranged with short petioles less than 2 millimeters long, growing in a somewhat rosetted pattern. The plant produces distinctive fruits 10 to 25 millimeters long, which are slightly four-angled and may be straight or gently coiled.
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, San Diego
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 pallida native to California?
Yes. Camissoniopsis pallida is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Camissoniopsis pallida grow?
Camissoniopsis pallida occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, San Diego.
What plant family does Camissoniopsis pallida belong to?
Camissoniopsis pallida is in the Onagraceae family, genus Camissoniopsis.
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.