SUN-CUPS (Oenothera bistorta, Nutt:). Flowers bright yel- 

 low, nearly an inch in diameter, often with a brownish spot at 

 the base of the petals, axillary on leafy stems which are usually 

 2 or 3 inches high, or almost flat to the ground, though in some 

 situations they attain a height of a foot or more. The pistil 

 is capped with a tiny round-ball of a stigma. Leaves about 3 

 inches long, somewhat toothed. A common plant in Southern 

 California, blooming in sunshine from February to June, on 

 open plains and in gravelly or sandy washes, often brightening 

 acres with its sunny color. 



The specific name of this Oenothera means "twice-twisted," 

 and was given because of the squirming seed vessels, which are 

 quite odd a characteristic, however, which is shared with 

 some other species. In Central California near the Coast the 

 name Sun-cups is applied to Oenothera ovata, Nutt., a low 

 plant with wavy-margined leaves in the form of a rosette. The 

 bright yellow flowers, quite similar to those of CE. bistorta, are 

 remarkable from the fact that what appear to be their long 

 peduncles are really the slender calyx tubes leading down to 

 the underground seed vessels. 



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