Camissonia cheiranthifolia (Sprengel) Raim ssp. suffruticosa (S. Watson) Raven   =Oenothera cheiranthifolia ssp. suffruticosa   Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)   Native   Beach Evening Primrose

                                        May Photo

Plant Characteristics: Perennial with several prostrate to decumbent wiry stems radiating from a central rosette, these 1-6 dm. long; plant grayish-pubescent throughout; lvs. thick, those of the rosette oblanceolate, 1-7 cm. long, narrowed into petioles 1-2 cm. long; lower cauline lvs. lance-oblong, subsessile to short-petioled, obtuse, subentire, 2-4 cm. long, the upper still shorter and broader, oblong-ovate; fls. in axils, mostly above the base of the stems; fl. tube 2.5-5 mm. long; sepals 4-10 mm. long; petals bright yellow, with or without reddish spots near the base, drying green or red, 5-9 mm. long; stamens unequal.

Habitat:  Coastal Strand, Pt. Conception to n. L. Calif.; sand hills and sandy beaches along the coast.  March-July.

Name:  The specific name means that the leaves are like that of the Cheiranthus, an old name for a Wallflower now renamed.  Suffruticosa leads to the English word "suffruticose" which means "very low, barely woody and shrub-like."  (Dale 141).

General:  Occasional in the study area.  At one time this plant was very common on the Northstar Beach.  However, in recent years, the County has disked the area each year and has destroyed most of the plants and more recently, the rowing center was built taking much of the original area on the beach.   Photographed on the Northstar Flats.  (my comments).      The seed oil of O. biennis, has recently been used as a source of gamma linoleic acid, GLA, which is supposed to have properties that lower blood pressure, cut down the rate at which cholesterol is made in the body, as a treatment for eczema, arthritis, hyperactivity, cancer and inducement of labor.  (ref. not recorded).      It has been noted by Wayne T. Williams, that the bumblebee, (Bombus sp.) is the only insect pollinating C. cheiranthifolia in the El Morro area.  Due to the high winds, the flowers all face down wind, these large bees approach upwind for greatest flight stability. (FREMONTIA, A Journal of the Native Plant Society, author and date unrecorded).       Generally cross-pollinated in contrast to ssp. cheiranthifolia which is self pollinating.  (Hickman, Ed. 782).       Ssp. suffruticosa confirmed by a field check on a Northstar Beach specimen in April 1994. (my comment).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 782; Munz, Calif. Flora 956; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 592; Roberts 30.

Photo Ref:  Dec 3 83 # 17; April 1 83 # 22,23; April-May 01 #12; May 06 #22A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  December 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 241.

No plant specimen.

Last edit 6/3/06.

                          April Photo                                                             December Photo                                                         April Photo