Camissonia lacustris facts for kids

Camissonia lacustris, also known as the grassland suncup, is a beautiful flowering plant. It is a type of evening primrose. This special plant grows only in California, making it an endemic species. You can find it in the grassy areas of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It also grows in parts of the Northern Coast Ranges, especially in Lake County.

What is the Grassland Suncup?

The grassland suncup is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle, from seed to flower to seed, within one year. Then it dies, and new seeds grow the next year.

How Does it Look?

This plant usually grows a stem that can stand straight up or spread out. Sometimes, the stem might even bend or twist! It can grow up to about half a meter tall. The stem is often a bit hairy.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the grassland suncup grow along its stem. They are usually small, less than 4 centimeters long. Their shape is either long and narrow (linear) or slightly oval.

The flowers grow in a group called an inflorescence. This is just a fancy word for how flowers are arranged on a plant. The flowers of the grassland suncup are yellow. Each petal is about half a centimeter long. Sometimes, you might even see two tiny red dots at the base of the petals.

The Fruit

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a straight, wavy capsule. It can be several centimeters long. Inside this capsule are the seeds for the next generation of grassland suncups.

Where Does the Grassland Suncup Live?

The grassland suncup is a true Californian native! It is endemic to the state, which means it naturally grows nowhere else in the world. Its favorite places are the open grasslands. You can spot it in the lower hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It also thrives in certain areas of the Northern Coast Ranges, particularly around Lake County.