Commemorating Ludolf Adelbert von Chamisso (1781–1838), an author, poet, explorer and naturalist.
Annual and perennial herbs, rarely subshrubs. Leaves basal or along the stem or both, alternate, simple to 2-pinnate. Flowers with petals yellow to purple or white, bent back when open, stamens and style yellow, stigma with a head. Fruit straight or twisted, splitting along the side.
Generally available as C. bistorta (Torr. &A. Gray) Raven, California Sun Cup, which has nodding yellow flowers that fade reddish and 4-angled fruit, the stigma protruding beyond the anthers.
62 species from Pacific America.
Seeds without a tuft of hair; stigma forming a head.
Raven (1969).
Source: (2002). Onagraceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
