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Oenothera suffulta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oenothera suffulta
In Denton County, Texas
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Section: O. sect. Gaura
Species:
O. suffulta
Binomial name
Oenothera suffulta
(Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch

Oenothera suffulta, known as roadside gaura, honeysuckle gaura, or kisses, is a flowering plant in the primrose family, Onagraceae.[1][2][3][4] It is endemic to the United States, in Texas (excluding the Trans-Pecos) and southern Oklahoma.[5][1]

Taxonomy

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Roadside gaura was first formally named in 1850 as Gaura suffulta. It was transferred to the genus Oenothera in 2007.[6]

It is most closely related to Oenothera patriciae and Oenothera triangulata.[5]

Description

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Oenothera suffulta is an annual herb, of open, sandy places. It grows up to 120 cm (3.9 ft) tall. The basal leaves form a rosette; each leaf is up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long and 2.3 cm (0.91 in) across. The stem leaves (cauline leaves) are alternate, simple, and range from 1–9 cm (0.4–3.5 in) long, with smooth, wavy, or toothed edges. The lower leaf surface is softly, velvety hairy.[4][5]

Roadside gaura flowers from April to June. Each plant produces a spike of closely packed flowers; several flowers open each day, around sunset. The flowers are relatively scentless. The flower has four long, white petals, each petal 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and narrowed at the base. The fruit is a woody, indehiscent capsule with broad wings on the angles.[5][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Oenothera suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Oenothera suffulta​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Gaura suffulta Engelm". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Gibson, A. C. "Vascular Plants of Williamson County Oenothera suffulta (Onagraceae)". Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Wagner, Warren; Krakos, Kyra; Hoch, Peter C. (7 November 2013). "Taxonomic changes in Oenothera sections Gaura and Calylophus (Onagraceae)". PhytoKeys (28): 61–72. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.28.6143. PMC 3881414. PMID 24399892.
  6. ^ "Oenothera suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 11 January 2020.