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Oenothera speciosa Nutt.

Pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies

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”
SpeciesspeciosaShowy

About plant names...

Pink evening primrose is native to southwestern North Amer­ica. They prefer prairies, fields, meadows, and open woodlands.

Plants: 6-24″ (15-60 cm) tall, with stems that are erect or slouching. One means of spreading is via root systems a foot underground, leading to clumps up to 6′ (1.8 m) around.

Leaves: Leaves are simple, toothed, and 1-3″ (3-8 cm) × ¾″ (2 cm), on short petioles (stems). They are hairless, or slightly hairy, and oblanceolate to elliptic.

Flowers: Young flowers are white, usually maturing to an attractive pink color, in small clusters atop long stems. They have four petals in the shape of a bowl, yellow centers, 8 stamens, and a long white stigma branched into 4 sections at its tip. Flowers are 2-3½″ (5-8.9 cm) across. Flowers appear from May to July or later, depending upon the area.

Fruits: Narrow capsules ⅜-⅝″ (1.2-1.8 cm) long.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

The Missouri Botanical Garden

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (49 × 33 cm)

Hartmannia speciosa (Nutt.) Small

Oenothera delessertiana Steud.

Oenothera speciosa Nutt. var. childsii (L.H. Bailey) Munz

 

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

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Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (49 × 33 cm)

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Oenothera speciosa (pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent

Range: Zones 4-9:

About this map...