Oenothera caespitosa

Oenothera caespitosa, known commonly as tufted evening primrose, desert evening primrose, rock-rose evening primrose, or fragrant evening primrose, is a perennial plant of the genus Oenothera native to much of western and central North America, in habitats such as talus slopes and sandy plains.[1] It is normally night-blooming.[2]

Oenothera caespitosa
Oenothera caespitosa var. marginata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. caespitosa
Binomial name
Oenothera caespitosa
Oenothera caespitosa at dusk, Convict Lake, Mono County CA

The plant is considered good for rock gardens. There are many subtaxa, referred to as subspecies or varieties.

Description

Oenothera caespitosa grows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. It produces a rosette of lobed or toothed leaves each up to 36 centimetres (14 in) long around a woody caudex. It has no stems, with flowers and leaves growing directly from the root crown.[1] The four-petaled white flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning pink.[3] The petals measure up to 5 cm (2 in) in width and length.[1] A notch gives them a heart shape.[1]

Ecology

The plant is a larval host to the white-lined sphinx moth.[4]

Oenothera caespitosa is dependent on hawkmoths, including the five-spotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata) for pollination.[5]

Similar species

Oenothera deltoides is very similar, with short stems and slightly smaller flowers.[1]

References
  1. Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 46. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726.
  2. The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
  3. "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p. 612. Könemann, 2004. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0
  4. The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
  5. Hodges, Scott A. "Some preliminary Observations on Hawkmoth Pollination of Oenothera caespitosa and Mirabilis multiflora" (PDF): 244–249. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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