I live on the ocean on the northern border of California, as well as this plant that is bordering the back edge of our yard, which seems to like ditches in the general area. I don't know if they grow from Rhizomes or are they so embedded that the root looks like one. Left alone in our back yard, they get to be 5-6 feet tall. I brought in a short sample to a local herbalist who was Trying to tell/WARN me that they might be "Gophers Purge". After looking at pictures, I've decided I need another herbalist ;) THANKS
Definitely one of the ~125 species of evening primroses native primarily to North America. The only remaining question is which particular one, it may be present on web sites or printed materials from state agencies or other sources providing accounts of important California weeds. Gopher purge (or spurge) is Euphorbia lathyris. This produces terminal umbels of typical small yellow spurge flower heads subtended by pointed green bracts, producing a very different appearance from that of a flowering evening primrose.
Alrighty, I'll just consider these a form or variation of "evening primrose" as it's Obviously NOT a "Gopher Purge" as was suggested by that questionable herbalist in my area. THANKS
