Eremothera chamaenerioides
Long fruit suncup
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eremothera chamaenerioides (Long fruit suncup) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key features: very long narrow straight fruits, small flowers.
Long fruit suncup is a California native annual found in the Inyo Mountains and Mojave Desert on sandy slopes, flats, and desert scrub at elevations of 50 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white flowers that fade to reddish, with delicate petals 1.8 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 8 to 50 centimeters tall that have a distinctive peeling texture and reddish coloration, it develops a glandular-hairy appearance. Its leaves are narrow, less than 80 millimeters long, elliptic to lanceolate with sparse minute teeth. The distinctive fruit is an elongated cylindrical structure 35 to 55 millimeters long, spreading outward from the plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species. Key features: very long narrow straight fruits, small flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy slopes, flats, desert scrub
Elevation: +- -50-1300 m.
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Alpine, Mono
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Eremothera chamaenerioides blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Chylismia: Eremothera has white/pink flowers opening at night; Chylismia has yellow day flowers.; vs Chorizanthe: Eremothera has regular 4-petaled flowers; Chorizanthe has tiny flowers in papery involucres (buckwheat family).; vs Oenothera: Eremothera has white/pink flowers; Oenothera typically has yellow flowers with 4-lobed stigma.; vs Camissonia: Eremothera has white/pink night flowers; Camissonia has yellow day flowers.; vs Gayophytum: Eremothera has larger white/pink flowers; Gayophytum has tiny thread-like stems and minute flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremothera chamaenerioides native to California?
Yes. Eremothera chamaenerioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremothera chamaenerioides bloom?
Eremothera chamaenerioides blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Eremothera chamaenerioides grow?
Eremothera chamaenerioides occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Alpine, Mono, at elevations of +- -50-1300 m..
What plant family does Eremothera chamaenerioides belong to?
Eremothera chamaenerioides is in the Onagraceae family, genus Eremothera.
What habitat does Eremothera chamaenerioides grow in?
Eremothera chamaenerioides grows in Sandy slopes, flats, desert 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.