Chylismia brevipes
Yellow cups
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chylismia brevipes (Yellow cups) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by dawn-opening flowers and compound leaves with well-developed lateral leaflets.
Yellow cups is a California native annual found in desert regions in sandy or rocky habitats. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with occasionally red-dotted bases, opening at dawn in delicate nodding inflorescences. Growing with strigose stems 10 to 75 centimeters tall, it forms a slender, spreading plant with primarily basal leaves. Its leaves are simple to slightly pinnate, with terminal leaflets up to 6 centimeters long and lateral leaflets typically less than 1 centimeter. The fruit is a long cylindrical capsule 4 to 9 centimeters in length, ascending or spreading from thin pedicels.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; distinguished by dawn-opening flowers and compound leaves with well-developed lateral leaflets
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles
How to tell it apart
vs Eremothera: Chylismia has yellow flowers; Eremothera has white, pink, or red flowers that open at night.; vs Camissonia: Chylismia leaves are mostly basal and dandelion-like; Camissonia has narrow leaves up the stem.; vs Camissoniopsis: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Camissoniopsis has lance-shaped leaves along the stem.; vs Eulobus: Chylismia has basal dandelion-like leaves; Eulobus has elegant wand-like stems with red-flecked petals.; vs Oenothera: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Oenothera is typically a robust tall plant with 4-lobed stigma.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chylismia brevipes native to California?
Yes. Chylismia brevipes is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Chylismia brevipes grow?
Chylismia brevipes occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles.
What plant family does Chylismia brevipes belong to?
Chylismia brevipes is in the Onagraceae family, genus Chylismia.
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.