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]
| Oenothera suffulta | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Denton County, Texas | |
Scientific 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
| |
Taxonomy
editRoadside 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
editOenothera 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
edit- ^ a b "Oenothera suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ NRCS. "Oenothera suffulta". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Gaura suffulta Engelm". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b c Gibson, A. C. "Vascular Plants of Williamson County Oenothera suffulta (Onagraceae)". Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Oenothera suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 11 January 2020.