Intermediate suncup facts for kids

The Intermediate Suncup (scientific name: Camissoniopsis intermedia) is a type of evening primrose plant. It gets its common name because its yellow flowers look a bit like tiny suns. This plant is an annual herb, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year.

What is the Intermediate Suncup?

The Intermediate Suncup is a small plant that usually grows to about half a meter (or 50 centimeters) tall. Its stem stands straight up and is covered in fine hairs. Most of its leaves grow in a circle close to the ground, forming what looks like a "rosette." These leaves can be up to 12 centimeters long and are shaped like an oval or a spear tip.

Its Flowers and Fruit

The plant produces fuzzy flower clusters that often droop or "nod" downwards. Each flower has small yellow petals, only a few millimeters long. You might notice one or two tiny red dots at the base of each petal. After the flowers bloom, they turn into a fruit. This fruit is a dry capsule that looks a bit like a straight or curled worm, growing up to 2.5 centimeters long. Inside this capsule are the seeds.

Where Does the Intermediate Suncup Live?

This plant is native to California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. It likes to grow on the slopes of hills and mountains, especially near the coast or further inland. You can often find it in areas that have recently had a wildfire. The plant seems to thrive in these places after the ground has been cleared by fire.