Oenothera parviflora L. - Small-flowered Evening Primrose


 

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Oenothera parviflora - (image 1 of 6)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Onagraceae

Habitat

Disturbed open areas.

Associates

 

 Distribution

Newfoundland to VA and WV, west to MN and AR. More common in northern areas.

Morphology

Annual; stem simple or branched from the base, decumbent to erect, 10-40(-80 cm); leaves oblanceolate to oblong or lanceolate, 3-8 cm, tapering to the base, prominently sinuate-dentate to pinnatifid, green, sparsely puberulent to glabrous above; flowers few, sessil in the axils of the scarcely reduced upper leaves, not forming a distinct spike; hypanthium hirsute, 1.5-3.5 cm; sepals 6-12 mm, reflexed separately or connivent; petals 5-18 mm; fruit linear, straight or curved, 1.5-3.5 cm; seeds thick-ellipsoid, pale brown, pitted.

Notes

Flowers July to October

Wetland indicator: FACU

Similar to O. biennis but with the sepal appendages separate from the base and subterminal, with the actual tip represented by a distinct transverse ridge or small lobe. Plants from MA to VA without glandular-tipped hairs that are closely and minutely canescent-strigulose have been called var. oakesiana (Robbins) Fernald.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.

The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 


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 Michael Hough © 2018