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Taxon  Report  
Oenothera californica  (S. Watson) S. Watson  ssp. eurekensis  (Munz & J. C. Roos) W. M. Klein
Eureka dunes evening primrose
Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis is a perennial herb (rhizomatous) that is native to California, and endemic (limited) to California.
also called Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis
California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere).
State of California status: Rare. Federal status: Delisted - recovered.
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Observation Search
~42 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
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Bloom Period
Parent: Oenothera californica
Genus: Oenothera
Family: Onagraceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Habitat: dunes

Communities: Creosote Bush Scrub

Name Status:
Accepted by CNPS + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
CNPS + PLANTSOenothera avita ssp. eurekensis
PLANTSOenothera deltoides ssp. eurekensis
Information about  Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
USDA PLANTS Profile (OECAE2)

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[Wikipedia] Endangered species status: Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis, the rare Eureka Dunes evening primrose, is a federally listed endangered species endemic to only a few occurrences in the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in the Eureka Valley of Inyo County, eastern California.[5] It grows alongside another local dune endemic, the endangered Eureka Valley dune grass (Swallenia alexandrae).[6] It is sometimes listed as its synonym Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis. The Eureka Valley Sand Dunes are within Death Valley National Park. The main threat to the Eureka Dunes evening primrose was off-road vehicle use. That threat has been reduced and the plant's population has improved, but is still threatened by other human activities and an invasive species of tumbleweed, Prickly Russian thistle (Kali tragus). The United States Fish and Wildlife Service had recommended the plant be removed from the endangered species list.[7] (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 04/24/2024).