Oenothera heterophylla

Oenothera heterophylla, commonly called variable evening-primrose,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the evening-primrose family (Onagraceae). It is native to the South Central region of the United States, with a disjunct eastern population in Alabama.[2] It has been recorded as an introduced waif in Missouri.[3]

Oenothera heterophylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. heterophylla
Binomial name
Oenothera heterophylla

Its natural habitat is open sandy woodlands. It is particularly common in the sandhill communities of east Texas.[1][4]

Oenothera heterophylla is an annual or short-lived perennial. It is an herbaceous plant growing to around 0.7 m. It produces yellow flowers that open around sunset from May through September. It can be distinguished from the similar-looking Oenothera rhombipetala by its elongated sepal tips, spreading-pubescent flower buds, and mature lower buds that extend past the tip of the spike.[1][3]

Taxonomy

Two subspecies of Oenothera heterophylla are currently recognized.[3] They are:

  • O. heterophylla ssp. heterophylla - Native to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas
  • O. heterophylla ssp. orientalis - Native to Alabama and Arkansas

References
  1. Diggs, George; Lipscomb, Barney; O'Kennon, Robert (1999). Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. p. 862-864.
  2. "Oenothera heterophylla". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  3. Yatskievych, George (2013). Flora of Missouri, Volume 3. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 528.
  4. Oenothera heterophylla NatureServe
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