Oenothera avita

Oenothera avita is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) family known by the common name California Primrose. It is native to parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it can be found in chaparral, higher elevation deserts and woodlands. It is a perennial herb producing a spreading or upright stem up to 80 centimeters long. Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves, while older ones have leaves along the stem, lance-shaped to nearly oval in shape and up to 6 centimeters long. Flowers occur in the upper leaf axils, drooping in bud and becoming erect as they bloom. The four petals are white, fading pink, and may exceed 3 centimeters long. There are three subspecies of this plant, one of which, the rare Eureka Dunes evening primrose (ssp. eurekensis), is a federally listed endangered species. It is sometimes listed as its synonym, Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis. This subspecies is known from only a few occurrences in the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in Inyo County, where it grows alongside another dune endemic, the endangered Eureka Valley dune grass (Swallenia alexandrae). The other two subspecies are common.