California Suncup
Camissonia californica
Flowers have four yellow petals marked with red. Notice also eight stamens and the capitate stigma. The flowers grow on tall, spindly stalks so as to be apparent to passing pollinators. This close-up photo was taken and submitted by L. Nessel.
The leaves grow in a basal clump, close to the ground and out of the drying winds. Photographed in the Hedgepeth Hills, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 3 Feb. 2008.
LEAVES: Leaves are mostly in a basal rosette and are distinctly shaped
and often colored. Leaves are variously splotched with dark red and the margin
teeth are sharply wedge-shaped.
FLOWERS: Small yellow flowers with red radiating lines on a tall stem.
Buds reddish before opening. Feb. to April/May. The four yellow petals give a
superficial resemblance to a mustard - but note 8 stamens (as opposed to 6 in
mustards) and a fruit capsule located below the sepals/petals (above in
mustards).
ANNUAL : A spring annual found mostly on rocky slopes and near
washbanks. Found commonly across the Sonoran Desert.
RANGE: Fairly common on desert flats and near washes of western Sonoran
Desert appearing only in response to good winter-spring rains.
FRUIT: Cylindrical capsules positioned below the sepals and petals, i.e.
inferior ovary.
UNARMED