Oenothera macrocarpa

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. macrocarpa
Binomial name
Oenothera macrocarpa

Oenothera macrocarpa (syn. Oenothera missouriensis), the bigfruit evening primrose,[1] Ozark sundrops,[2] Missouri evening primrose,[3] or Missouri primrose,[4] is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family Onagraceae, native to northeast Mexico and the south-central United States, where it is found in calcareous prairies and limestone outcrops.[5]

Description

This herbaceous perennial produces a red stem up to 46 cm (18 in) in height.[6] The plant can sprawl along the ground up to 0.6 m (2 ft).[4] Leaves are long and narrow, about 15 cm (6 in) long by 3 cm (1 in) across, and are densely crowded in an alternate arrangement along the stem.[6] They have either smooth margins or broadly spaced teeth and are hairy.[7]

The large flowers, up to 13 cm (5 in) across, are cup shaped with four petals, canary yellow, and have a mild fragrance. They are produced in great numbers from early to mid summer. The flowers last for one day, opening in the evening and closing the following morning.[6] The seed pods are 4-winged and 52–75 mm (2–3 in) long.[7]

Taxonomy

There are five commonly accepted varieties.[8] These are:

  • O. macrocarpa var. fremontii - restricted to Kansas and southern Nebraska[9]
  • O. macrocarpa var. incana - southern Kansas, western Oklahoma and northern Texas
  • O. macrocarpa var. macrocarpa - the most widespread; Texas to the Ozark Mountains, with disjunct populations in Tennessee's Nashville Basin[10]
  • O. macrocarpa var. mexicana - known only from Coahuila, Mexico[11]
  • O. macrocarpa var. oklahomensis - southern Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas

Etymology

The genus name Oenothera is from the Greek for "wine-scented". The specific epithet macrocarpa is also from the Greek, meaning "large fruited".[12]

Distribution and habitat

Oenothera macrocarpa is native to Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and northeast Mexico.[13] Habitats include limestone outcrops, glades, bluffs, rocky prairies, quarries, and roadsides.[7]

Ecology

The flowers are pollinated by night-flying moths, such as sphinx moths (Sphingidae).[6]

Uses

The seed pods are often used in flower arrangements. This plant is also grown in gardens for its flowers.[14][15] It is suitable as a groundcover in poor, stony soil which does not become waterlogged in winter, in full sun. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[2][16]

References

  1. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Oenothera macrocarpa". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 "RHS Plantfinder - Oenothera macrocarpa". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
  4. 1 2 "Oenothera macrocarpa; Missouri Primrose". Oenothera macrocarpa; Missouri Primrose.
  5. ↑ Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Online
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)". www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
  7. 1 2 3 "Oenothera macrocarpa page". www.missouriplants.com.
  8. ↑ "Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online.
  9. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Oenothera macrocarpa". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Chester, Edward (2015). Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.
  11. ↑ Wagner, Warren; Hoch, Peter; Raven, Peter (2007). "Revised Classification of the Onagraceae". Systematic Botany Monographs. 83. JSTOR i25027967.
  12. ↑ Denison, Edgar (2017). Missouri Wildflowers (Sixth ed.). Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-887247-59-7.
  13. ↑ "Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online.
  14. ↑ Missouri Botanical Garden
  15. ↑ "Perennial Resource: Oenothera missouriensis". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  16. ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 69. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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