Chylismia brevipes aka Yellow Cups

Chylismia brevipes grows for one year. It belongs to Onagraceae, the evening primrose family. Its common names include golden suncup and yellow suncups. Older sources use the name Oenothera brevipes or Camissonia brevipes. It comes from the southwest of the United States. Its range covers parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. It grows near the lower Colorado River and in nearby deserts. Its wild homes include dry slopes and washes.

Plants reach about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. They grow in sand or rocky soil with few other plants. Moisture at the right season brings fast growth. Flowers and seeds then follow. The spring blooms draw bees, moths, and butterflies. Each flower has both male and female organs. The plant can also use its own pollen to set seed. Its fruits are capsules, which split as they mature. They hold seeds for a time, rather than dropping all at once. This helps curb losses to wind and some seed feeders. Ants gather fallen seeds and can take large amounts.

Give this desert plant full sun and soil that drains well. It cannot grow in shade. Sand, loam, and rocky sites all suit it. It accepts slightly acid soil, neutral soil, and slightly alkaline soil. The soil can be dry or moist but must drain well. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 8–10. Grow new plants from seed on open ground that suits them. When rain falls affects whether seeds sprout. How long the soil surface stays moist also plays a part. Results may vary from year to year.

This plant suits desert gardens that use little water. It also suits open garden edges and plantings that restore land. These sites meet its needs better than beds with added water. Its flowers feed insects, and its seeds feed wildlife. PFAF does not flag it as a weed. The supplied sources name no pests or diseases in particular. They give no established use as medicine.

PFAF lists seeds, seedpods, roots, leaves, and young shoots as edible. It describes cooked roots, leaves, and shoots as food. You can eat seeds raw or toast them lightly. Their mucilage, a gel-like substance, can help thicken soup. The source gives mixed views on how easy seeds are to gather. One account notes their small size. Another says they give useful yields. It flags no specific toxin in the seeds. This does not prove that the whole plant is safe. Do not gather food from polluted soil or busy roadsides.