Oenothera californica (California evening primrose)

Oenothera californica (S. Watson) S. Watson

California evening primrose

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Myrtales	Includes myrtles, leadwoods, loosestrifes, pomegranates, evening primroses, many others
Family	Onagraceae	Willowherb/evening primrose family
Genus	Oenothera	Derivation 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”
Species	californica	“Of or from California”

About plant names...

California evening primrose is native to parts of the southwestern United States, and Baja California. It is found in chaparral, dry plains, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and higher elevation deserts.

Plants: Plant stems are erect or may spread horizontally, and 4-31" (10-80 cm) long.

Leaves: Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves. Older plants also have leaves along the stem. Leaves are lanceolate (lance-shaped), and ¾-6" (2-15 cm) long. Leaves are typically smaller than those of O. deltoides.

Flowers: Flower buds are nodding and hairy, about ¾" (1.9 cm) long and ⅜" (9.5 mm) wide, with reddish stripes along their length. Tips open into white flowers ¾-1½" (2-4 cm) around, with four petals. Each flower has 8 stamens and an anther that splits in two at the tip. Older flowers take on a pinkish tinge. They have pleasant fragrance. They appear from March to June.

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

These are closely similar:

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 9 × 7" (23 × 16 cm)

	You are here Oenothera californica	*Oenothera deltoides*
Common Name	California evening primrose	desert primrose
Plant	Plant stems are erect or may spread horizontally, and 4-31" (10-80 cm) long.	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, white flowers ¾-1½" (2-4 cm) around, with four petals. Each flower has 8 stamens and an *anther that splits in two at the tip.* Older flowers take on a pinkish tinge. They have pleasant fragrance. They appear from March to June.	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	Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves. Older plants also have leaves along the stem. Leaves are lanceolate (lance-shaped), and ¾-6" (2-15 cm) long. Leaves are typically *smaller than those of O. deltoides.*	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.	¾-2" (2-6 cm) round, usually curved pods, with seeds ¹/₃₂-¹/₁₆" (1.5-2 mm) in size.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Chaparral, dry plains, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and higher elevation deserts.	Sandy soils such as deserts and beaches.
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Oenothera californica on Wikimedia Commons (Photos)

Oenothera californica on CalPhotos Photos

Oenothera californica on calscape.org

Oenothera californica from the Jepson Manual

4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 7 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

4/30/2018 · Cima Road or Nearby, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 13 cm)

4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 7 × 6" (17 × 14 cm)

4/30/2018 · Cima Road or Nearby, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 5 × 5" (13 × 12 cm)

Oenothera californica description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 13 Sep 2021.

4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 4 × 7" (11 × 16 cm)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 11 × 8" (27 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 10 × 7" (24 × 16 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

Range:

About this map...