''Oenothera suffrutescens'' (syn. ''Gaura coccinea'') is a species of flowering plant in the
evening primrose family known as scarlet beeblossom
and scarlet gaura.
Distribution
The plant is native to much of North America, especially the western and central sections. It can be found in many habitats and is occasionally an urban weed.
Description
Scarlet beeblossom is a perennial herb growing from a woody base and heavy roots. The stems may reach anywhere from 10 centimeters in height to over a meter and sprawling, and they are often covered in small, stiff hairs. The thin to thick clumps of stems are covered in linear to somewhat oval-shaped leaves one to seven centimeters long. Atop the stems are spike
inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
s of several flowers each. The flower has four long, stiff
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s which open and fall away from the flower to lie reflexed toward the stem. There are four spoon-shaped petals which are white to yellowish and may turn pink with age. Each flower has eight long
stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s with large red, pink, or yellowish anthers arranged around a long
stigma. The fruit is a woody capsule under a centimeter long.
References
External links
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN profile of ''Gaura coccinea'' (Scarlet beeblossom)UC CalPhotos gallery
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q17602158, from2=Q5527734
suffrutescens
Flora of North America