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Oenothera deltoides Torr. & Frém.

Desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderMyrtalesIncludes myrtles, leadwoods, loosestrifes, pomegranates, evening primroses, many others
FamilyOnagraceaeWillowherb/evening primrose family
GenusOenotheraDerivation uncertain: 1. Greek ονος θηρας (onos theras), or “donkey catcher.” 2. Or οινος θηρας (oinos theras), “wine seeker.” 3. Or Latin oenothera, “a plant whose juices may cause sleep”
SpeciesdeltoidesGreek for “triangular” (Greek letter delta, Δ) (from Stearn’s Botanical Latin)

About plant names...

Desert primrose is native to the southwestern United States, and northern Mexico. It prefers sandy soils such as deserts and beaches.

Plants: Most of the colorful common names of this plant refer to odd shape it takes after it dies. The stems curl upward and form the “birdcage,” as shown below. Several leafy branches extend from the central stem, along the ground, from 4″ (10 cm) to 3′ (91 cm). It is these stems that dry and curl.

Leaves: Leaves are gray-green, forming a basal rosette. Leaves are deltoid, diamond-shaped, or oval, ¾-6″ (2-15 cm) long and up to ¾″ (1.9 cm), and often lobed, toothed, or grooved. (In several of the photos here, it is difficult to distinguish the leaves from those of surrounding plants.)

Flowers: Showy, fragrant white flowers that fade to pink as they age, ¾-1½″ (2-4 cm) wide. Each flower has a yellow throat, 4 petals, 8 stamens, and a stigma with four wavy hair-like branches. The flowers bloom at night.

Fruits: ¾-2″ (2-6 cm) round, usually curved pods, with seeds 1/32-1/16″ (1.5-2 mm) in size.

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

Branches surrounding the main stem lie on the ground, curling upward when the plant dies. Photo source unknown.

These are closely similar:

 

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm)

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

  You are here
Oenothera deltoides
Common Name

desert primrose
Plant Most of the colorful common names of this plant refer to odd shape it takes after it dies. The stems curl upward and form the “birdcage,” as shown below. Several leafy branches extend from the central stem, along the ground, from 4″ (10 cm) to 3′ (91 cm). It is these stems that dry and curl.
Flowers Showy, fragrant white flowers that fade to pink as they age, ¾-1½″ (2-4 cm) wide. Each flower has a yellow throat, 4 petals, 8 stamens, and a stigma with four wavy hair-like branches. The flowers bloom at night.
Leaves Leaves are gray-green, forming a basal rosette. Leaves are deltoid, diamond-shaped, or oval, ¾-6″ (2-15 cm) long and up to ¾″ (1.9 cm), and often lobed, toothed, or grooved.
Fruit ¾-2″ (2-6 cm) round, usually curved pods, with seeds 1/32-1/16″ (1.5-2 mm) in size.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Sandy soils such as deserts and beaches.
Type Wild

 

Online References:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Oceanlight.com, a natural history stock photography site by Phillip Colla

CalPhotos (Photos)

The Land Retirement Demonstration Project by the U.S. Department of the Interior (PDF)

Wikimedia Commons (Photos)

The Jepson Manual

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

 

Oenothera deltoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Oenothera deltoides (desert primrose, birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, devil's lantern)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Range:

About this map...