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Linnaeus
named this genus in 1753 using a name given
several thousand years ago by Theophrastus to another genus in this family. The meaning of "Oenothera" is not agreed on; Greek gives us both "oenos" for "wine" and "thera" which is variously translated as "to seek", "to imbibe", "to catch", "to hunt". "Thera" could indicate that the plant (really just the root) was used to flavor wine, or the root was used to absorb wine and was then fed to animals to calm them, or the juice of the root was put in wine to seduce, or the root in wine just plain made people happy.
See yellow Oenotheras. |
Oenothera albicaulis (White-stemmed Evening
Primrose) Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Semi-desert, foothills.
Openings, sand. Spring. This often low-to-the-ground annual or winter annual is fairly common, sometimes very common, and its very large white flowers quickly catch attention. The first flower of the season is usually, as shown here, erect, but as the plant grows (sometimes to 10 inches tall), flower stems will often bend outward and then upward. Basal leaves range from entire to deeply dissected (pinnatifid) and stem leaves are often progressively smaller and also deeply dissected. The plant is often so small that the stem leaves are difficult to see, but a close look with a hand lens or with a macro camera reveals the stem leaves. These stem leaves are important to look for because the presence of stem leaves immediately tells you that you are not looking at the very common Oenothera caespitosa which has no stem, no stem leaves; it is acaulescent. See below. Frederick Pursh named this plant in his 1814 Flora Americana from a specimen collected by John Bradbury in the upper Louisiana Territory. "Albicaulis" is Latin for "white-stemmed". |
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Oenothera caespitosa subspecies marginata (Tufted Evening
Primrose) Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Semi-desert, foothills,
montane. Disturbed areas, openings, sand. Spring, summer. This is a very common, wide ranging, Evening Primrose with a number of common varieties. It has very large white flowers, spreads by underground roots, and is often abundant in large colonies on steep dry slopes and sandy soils. The entire plant is quite low to the ground, and the flower, disproportionately large for the size of the rest of the plant, often touches the ground. Leaf length and depth of serrations and teeth varies. Flowers often open in the evening and wither to pink with the sun and heat of the next afternoon. "Caespitosa", "growing in tufts", refers to the dense tufts of basal leaves and stems. Thomas Nuttall collected this plant along the banks of the Missouri in South Dakota in 1811 and named it in 1813. However, Meriwether Lewis collected this species July 17, 1806 in Montana, near the Falls of the Missouri. Click to read why Lewis' collection is not considered the type. |
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Oenothera coronopifolia (Cut-leaf Evening Primrose) Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Foothills, montane. Woodlands, openings.
Spring, summer. The very finely cut leaves, large white flowers, and spreading clusters of this slender Oenothera distinguish it. Oenothera coronopifolia often grows in colonies of many plants; areas of the foothills would have this as a common plant if it were not for cows, alfalfa fields, and lawn mowers. The etymology of the specific epithet "coronopifolia" is debatable but ultimately the meaning is the same: "deeply divided leaves". The Latin "coron" means "crown" and the epithet would then refer to the resemblance of the deeply cut leaves to the deep indentations along the top rim of a crown. The Greek meaning of "coron" is "raven" and the epithet would then refer to the resemblance of the deeply cut leaves to the deep indentations of a Raven's foot. The epithet also refers to the resemblance of this Oenothera's leaves to those of the Mustard genus, Coronopus. The plant was first collected by Edwin James in 1820 near the forks of the Platte River and was described by Torrey and Gray in their 1840 Flora of North America. |
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Oenothera pallida (Pale Evening Primrose) Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Semi-desert, foothills. Shrublands, openings.
Spring, summer. Oenothera pallida is highly variable in its growth characteristics: it can be an annual or, more commonly, a perennial; its height is from eight to twenty-four inches; stems are red and fleshy but often are woody and flaky in older plants; stems commonly lean and arch; leaves are narrow but can be entire, toothed, or deeply cut; plants can be glabrous (smooth without hairs) or hairy. Plants often spread from roots and can be so abundant that an area is dotted with red stems in early spring and then with numerous, glorious white flowers. Petals have noticeable yellow/green patches at their base. John Lindley named this species from a specimen collected by David Douglas (of Douglas Fir fame) in the early 1800s in the "north-west of North America". (Douglas' words as quoted in Intermountain Flora.) "Pallida" is Latin for "pale". More Oenothera pallida photographs.
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Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Oenothera albicaulis Range map for Oenothera caespitosa ssp. marginata Range map for Oenothera caespitosa ssp. navajoensis Range map for Oenothera coronopifolia Range map for Oenothera pallida |