Oenothera deltoides (Desert primrose)

Oenothera deltoides Torr. & Frém.

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

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	deltoides	Greek 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.

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

These are closely similar:

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

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

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 5 × 7" (12 × 18 cm)

5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, California
≈ 4 × 4½" (11 × 11 cm)

	*Oenothera californica*	You are here 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