Scientific Family
Papaveraceae
Synonyms
Platystemon arizonicus, , Platystemon californicus var. californicus, Platystemon californicus var. ciliatus, See USDA plant database.
Other common names
creamcups
cream cups
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6 to 12 inches
Riparian
No
A soft-haired plant with several stems and mostly basal leaves, each stem topped with 1 small, bowl-shaped flower resembling a pale yellow or cream buttercup.
Hairy annual with basal, opposite entire leaves and perfect white flowers solitary at stem ends. Flowers cream-colored or white, often fading to yellow, stamens many. Fruit is a capsule, often constricted between each dark squarish seed.
Habitat
Found in open areas, often in loose or disturbed soils.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
4500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers solitary, terminal, normally 6 petals, sometimes more, to 1 inch wide. The delicate, cream-colored, solitary flowers of this 6 to 12 inches annual are followed by a fruit which has been compared to tiny ears of corn.
Flower color
Pale creamy yellow to white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are mostly basal, 1/2 to 3-1/2 inches long and hairy with prickles on veins and margins; stem leaves clasp the stem.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Cylindrical capsule 2/3 inch long, turns brown. Sometimes compared to tiny ears of corn with the husks removed. The ovary separates into many sections when fruit forms.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Green to brown
Black squarish seeds.