Camissonia
bistorta #
The
Evening Primrose Family consists of herbs usually with simple leaves.
The flowers have 4 petals and most commonly, 8 stamens.
The stigma is either ball-shaped or 4-lobed. The ovary is inferior.
The
name is misleading, for these plants are not related to the Primroses
(Primulaceae). John Parkinson, an
English herbalist who was the first to describe these New World flowers, gave
the Primrose name to them in the early 1600’s.
Their scent reminded him of the Wild Primroses in English meadows.
The "Evening" of the name refers to the habit of some species
of opening at sundown and closing by morning.
(Dale 139).
About
600 species of wide distribution especially in western North America.
(Munz, Flora So. Calif. 589).
Upper
Newport Bay species within the family:
Camissonia
cheiranthifolia var. suffruticosa #
Epilobium
ciliatum ssp. ciliatum #
Ludwigia
peploides ssp. peploides #
Camissonia
lewisii #
Camissonia
micrantha #
Epilobium
canum ssp. canum #
Fuchsia
triphylla
Oenothera
elata ssp. hirsutissima #
Oenothera
speciosa