Oenothera primiveris is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names yellow desert evening primrose, bottle evening-primrose, and desert evening-primrose.[1][2]

Oenothera primiveris
Oenothera primiveris subsp. bufonis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. primiveris
Binomial name
Oenothera primiveris

Habitat

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It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.[2][3]

It grows below 4,500 feet (1,400 m) in many types of flat desert habitats, including Creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodland, and Pinyon-juniper woodland.[1] It is found in the Mojave Desert.[1][2]

Description

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Oenothera primiveris is a hairy annual herb producing a dense rosette of leaves in which the inflorescence occurs. There is generally no true stem.[4]

The green or grayish leaves are up to 28 centimeters long and have wavy or crinkled edges, or are cut into deep lobes or teeth.[4]

Flowers arise from the axils of the leaves. Each flower has yellow petals up to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in length which fade orange or red with age.[4] Its bloom period is February through May.[1][2]

The fruit is a straight or curving capsule up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) in length.[4]

Subspecies

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  • Oenothera primiveris subsp. bufonis — Large yellow desert primrose, endemic to the Mojave Desert in California & Nevada.[5]
  • Oenothera primiveris subsp. primiveris [6]

References

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