Oenothera fruticosa
Oenothera fruticosa, the narrowleaf evening primrose[1] or narrow-leaved sundrops, is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family.
Oenothera fruticosa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Onagraceae |
Genus: | Oenothera |
Species: | O. fruticosa |
Binomial name | |
Oenothera fruticosa | |
It is native to much of eastern North America,[2] where it is found in a variety of open habitats, including dry woodlands, rock outcrops and moist savannas.
It is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to 20–90 cm (8–35 in) tall, with alternative, simple, entire or slightly toothed leaves. The saucer- or cup-shaped yellow flowers, 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, appear in late spring and summer.[3] The fruit is a capsule that is strongly 4-angled or winged and shaped like a club.
Many varieties have been named, but the infraspecific taxonomy of this species is still in an unresolved state.
Conservation status in the United States
Oenothera fruticosa is listed as a special concern species in Connecticut.[4]
Uses
The Cherokee parboil the leaves, rinse them and cook in hot grease as a potherb.[5]
References
- Oenothera fruticosa L., USDA PLANTS
- "Floristic synthesis map" (PNG). Bonap.net. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
- "Plants Profile for Oenothera fruticosa (narrowleaf evening primrose)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- Perry, Myra Jean, 1975, Food Use of 'Wild' Plants by Cherokee Indians, The University of Tennessee, M.S. Thesis, page 49
Further reading
- Pennell, Francis (1919). "A brief conspectus of the genus Kneiffia, with characterization of a new allied genus". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 46: 363. doi:10.2307/2480352. JSTOR 2480352. Retrieved 2019-01-18. A detailed technical taxonomic description