Oenothera elata is a species of Oenothera belonging to the family Onagraceae, known by the common name Hooker's evening primrose or tall evening primrose. Subspecies include hookeri, hirsutissima, longisima, jamesii, villosa and elata. It is native to much of western and central North America. The plants are quite tall, especially the hookeri subspecies, native to California, which can reach about 1.8 meters (6 feet) height. The plants are found along roadsides, in moist meadows, or in woodland, from sea level up to 9,000 ft (2,700 m) in elevation.
Description
The stout, usually reddish stem has many long, narrow leaves, above a basal rosette. At its top is a large, open cluster of 2- to 4-inch wide yellow flowers with 4 large petals and protruding yellow stamens and 4-branched pistil, often covered in sticky pollen. The fragrant flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning orange or red.
Taxonomy
Oenothera elata was scientifically described and given its accepted name by Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1823. It has 50 synonyms of the species or one of its three subspecies according to Plants of the World Online.
Table of Synonyms
Name
Year
Rank
Synonym of:
Notes
Oenothera biennis f. hookeri (Torr. & A.Gray) B.Boivin
1966
form
subsp. hookeri
≡ hom.
Oenothera biennis var. hirsutissima A.Gray ex S.Watson
1873
variety
subsp. hirsutissima
≡ hom.
Oenothera biennis var. hookeri (Torr. & A.Gray) B.Boivin
1967
variety
subsp. hookeri
≡ hom.
Oenothera communis var. hookeri (Torr. & A.Gray) H.Lév.
1909
variety
subsp. hookeri
≡ hom.
Oenothera corymbosa Sims
1818
species
subsp. hirsutissima
= het., nom. illeg.
Oenothera elata var. hirsutissima (A.Gray) Cronquist
1997
variety
subsp. hirsutissima
≡ hom.
Oenothera elata subsp. texensis W.Dietr. & W.L.Wagner
1987
subspecies
subsp. hirsutissima
= het.
Oenothera franciscana Bartlett
1914
species
subsp. hookeri
= het.
Oenothera grisea (Bartlett)...
