Taxon Report

Camissonia lacustris P. H. Raven

grassland suncup

Print Report


© 2021 Ryan O'Dell

Taxon Summary

Camissonia lacustris, commonly known as grassland suncup, is a annual herb in the Onagraceae that is . It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 180 to 1220 meters. Camissonia lacustris is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Camissonia lacustris P. H. Raven
Common Name:
grassland suncup
Family: Onagraceae
Element Code: PDONA030W0
USDA Plants Symbol: CALA39
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jun Mar-Jun
Elevation: 180-1220 (590-4005)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat: Granitic, Gravelly, Serpentine
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 14
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 1
   Unknown (U) 13
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
El Dorado (ELD), Fresno (FRE), Lake (LAK), Mariposa (MPA), Tuolumne (TUO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Camino (3812066), Columbia Se (3812013), Half Dome (3711965), Kelseyville (3812287), Lakeport (3912218), Merced Peak (3711964), Pine Flat Dam (3611973), Standard (3712083), Stumpfield Mtn. (3711947), Tuolumne (3712082), Wawona (3711956)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 4
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 21 %
Development 2 14%
Non-native plant impacts 2 14%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 7%
Dam/Inundation 1 7%

Notes

Threats:
Threatened by urbanization, development, agriculture, and non-native plants
Taxonomy:
Sierran plants may be C. sierrae subsp. sierrae, making C. lacustris endemic to LAK Co.

Selected References

Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 37: 329–332
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 37: 161–396
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 11 May 2025].