Chylismia (Camissonia, Oenothera) brevipes, Yellow Cups, Southwest Desert Flora

Chylismia brevipes, Yellow Cups

Yellow Cups has beautiful bright yellow, nodding flowers. Many flowers petals are red-dotted, all have a noticeable round knob on the tip of the style. Chylismia brevipes

Yellow Cups, also called Golden Suncup, Mojave Suncup and Pallid Suncup is a handsome native annual that grows up to 30. Chylismia brevipes

Yellow Cups blooms from February to May and prefers dry desert washes and plains or rocky slopes often in Creosote Bush plant communities. Chylismia

Yellow Cups is closely related to Browneyes, a similar species with whitish flowers and often growing nearby, as in this photograph. Chylismia brevipes

Yellow Cups has dramatic mostly basal green leaves, simple to 1-pinnate and a terminal leaflet. Chylismia brevipes

Scientific Name: Chylismia brevipes
Common Name: Yellow Cups
Also Called: Golden Suncup, Mojave Suncup, Pallid Suncup, Sun Cups, Yellow Cups
Family: Onagraceae, Evening Primrose Family
Synonyms: (Camissonia brevipes, Oenothera brevipes)
Status: Native
Duration: Annual
Size: Up to 30 inches.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; strigose or hairs spreading; stems reddish.
Leaves: Green; generally basal; simple to 1-pinnate, terminal leaflet.
Flower Color: Yellow, bright yellow; inflorescence nodding; flower petals red-dotted; noticeable round knob on the style; fruit ascending to spreading.
Flowering Season: February to May.

Elevation: 4,500 feet or lower; below 5,500 feet in California.

Habitat Preferences: Dry washes, desert plains, rocky slopes, creosote bush communities.

Recorded Range: Chylismia brevipes is found throughout the southwestern United States in AZ, CA, NV, UT.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Chylismia brevipes.

U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.

Genus Information: In North America, the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service includes species of Chylismia under the genus Camissonia. The synonym Camissonia is found in the west half of North America. The Plant List includes 16 accepted species for Chylismia. The synonym Camissonia is found in the west half of North America. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.

There are 3 subsp. in Chylismia brevipes;
Chylismia brevipes subsp. arizonica, Golden Suncup, (AZ, CA);
Chylismia brevipes subsp. brevipes, Golden Suncup, (AZ, CA, NV, UT);
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula, Pallid Suncup, (AZ, CA, NV, UT).

Comments: Members of the Evening Primrose family have undergone several taxonomic changes. Chylismia brevipes was originally included in the type genus Oenothera, reclassified to Chylismia reclassified again to Camissonia, currently they have been placed back to the earlier genus Chylismia.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see Browneyes, Chylismia claviformis and Miniature Suncup, Camissonia micrantha and California Suncup, Eulobus californicus.