Taxon Report

Oenothera avita (W.M. Klein) W.M. Klein ssp. eurekensis (Munz & J.C. Roos) W.M. Klein

Eureka Dunes evening-primrose

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis, commonly known as Eureka Dunes evening-primrose, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Onagraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Desert dunes, growing at elevations from 850 to 1200 meters. Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Oenothera avita (W.M. Klein) W.M. Klein ssp. eurekensis (Munz & J.C. Roos) W.M. Klein
Common Name:	Eureka Dunes evening-primrose
Family:	Onagraceae
Element Code:	PDONA0C071
USDA Plants Symbol:	OECAE2
Synonyms/Other Names:	Oenothera californica (S. Watson) S. Watson ssp. eurekensis (Munz & J.C. Roos) W.M. Klein

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun(Jul)	Apr-Jun(Jul)
Elevation:	850-1200 (2790-3935)
General Habitats:	Desert dunes
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G4?T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	CR
Fed List:	FD
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	3
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
East of Joshua Flats (3711727), East of Waucoba Spring (3711717), Last Chance Range SW (3711716)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	67 %
Non-native plant impacts	2	66%
ORV activity	1	33%

Notes



Federally listed as Endangered on 1978-05-27; Delisted due to Recovery on 2018-03-29. Known only from dunes in Eureka Valley, within Death Valley NP. Habitat previously degraded by vehicle traffic; populations recovering well, but still threatened by vehicle trespass, foot traffic, recreation, and non-native Russian thistle. Recovery plan has been completed by BLM. See Aliso 3(2):118 (1955) for original description, and Biological Conservation 46:217-242 (1988) for population biology.
Threats:
Threatened by vehicle trespass, foot traffic, recreation, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Recovery Plan for Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis (Eureka Dunes evening-primrose) (USFWS 1982)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 18 November 2025].