''Oenothera fruticosa'', the narrowleaf evening primroseOenothera fruticosa L.
USDA PLANTS or narrow-leaved sundrops, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the evening primrose family. It is

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to much of eastern North America, where it is found in a variety of open habitats, including dry woodlands, rock outcrops and moist savannas. It is an erect herbaceous

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

growing to tall, with alternative, simple, entire or slightly toothed leaves. The saucer- or cup-shaped yellow flowers, in diameter, appear in late spring and summer. The fruit is a capsule that is strongly 4-angled or winged and shaped like a club. Many varieties have been named, but the infraspecific taxonomy of this species is still in an unresolved state.

Description

''Oenothera fruticosa'' is an evening primrose which stands in a height range of 16-36 inches and is a perennial wildflower. Leaves are alternating and lance-shaped, growing 2-3 inches and pubescent. The stem is straight, pubescent, and ranges in color from red-green. The petals are rounded and 1-2 inches long. Flowering is in spring to early summer.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus, which is identified in the name of the species as the authority "L." . The taxonomy of this plant is complex and at times confusing as illustrated by the numerous synonyms, forms, and varieties. Synonyms for ''Oenothera fruticosa'': * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''angustifolia'' H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''differta'' Millsp. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''diversifolia'' H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''eamesii'' S.F.Blake * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''goodmanii'' Munz * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''hirsuta'' (Nutt.) H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''humifusa'' C.K.Allen * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''incana'' (Nutt.) Hook. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''incana'' (Nutt.) Voss * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''linearifolia'' Hook. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''linearis'' (Michx.) S.Watson * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''lucida'' H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''maculata'' H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''microcarpa'' Fernald * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''phyllopus'' (Hook.) Voss * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''phyllopus'' Hook. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''pilosella'' Small & A.Heller * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' f. ''sessilicarpa'' H.Lév. * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''subglobosa'' (Small) Munz * ''Oenothera fruticosa'' var. ''vera'' Hook. * ''Oenothera hybrida'' var. ''ambigua'' (Nutt.) S.F.Blake * ''Oenothera incana'' Nutt. * ''Oenothera linearis'' Michx. * ''Oenothera linearis'' var. ''angustifolia'' Pursh * ''Oenothera linearis'' var. ''brevifolia'' Pursh * ''Oenothera linearis'' var. ''eamesii'' B.L.Rob. * ''Oenothera longipedicellata'' (Small) B.L.Rob. * ''Oenothera mollissima'' Walter * ''Oenothera riparia'' Nutt. * ''Oenothera serotina'' Sweet * ''Oenothera subglobosa'' (Small) Weath. & Griscom * ''Oenothera subglobosa'' var. ''arenicola'' Weath. & Griscom * ''Oenothera tetragona'' var. ''riparia'' (Nutt.) Munz * ''Oenothera tetragona'' var. ''velutina'' (Pennell) Munz * ''Onagra linkiana'' Spach * ''Sphaerostigma arenicola'' A.Nelson

Distribution and habitat

The ''Oenothera fruticosa'' has a wide range in the United States which consists of the eastern seaboard (New York- Florida) and as far west as Oklahoma. Within these regions, ''Oenothera fruticosa'' prefers lower elevations. In the state of North Carolina which is within its range, this species is found widely around the state except in the mountainous regions.''Oenothera fruticosa'' grows best in sunny areas that have mostly acidic soil conditions and good drainage (sandy soils). The common sundrop is relatively resilient to drought, shade, extreme heat, and varying soil pH. ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is mostly found in grassy clearings, meadows, and along roadways in its native range . Oenothera fruticosa pollen01

Conservation status

''Oenothera fruticosa'' is listed as a species of special concern in

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

Uses

The

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

parboil the leaves, rinse them and cook in hot grease as a potherb. In the modern day, the narrow-leaved sundrop is primarily a garden specimen. Historically ''Oenothera fruticosa'' was used by Native American tribes for a multitude of aliments. The tribes that used this species included the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Ojibwa. Although the tribes differ, the reasons that they used the narrow-leaf evening primrose, were similar. Its uses included helping with stomach issues, weightloss, bruising, and hemorrhoids. It is unknown at this time if ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is medically effective. ''Oenothera fruticosa'' has been included in research for breast cancer. As a garden specimen the narrow-leaved sundrop is used in a variety of different ways. For landscaping, ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is used as a barrier or border plant. Not only is the narrow-leaved sundrop used in landscaping, but gardeners include this plant in pollinator gardens, rock gardens, cottage gardens, and native gardens for their ability to attract pollinators and their beautiful yellow petals. ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is a host plant of the pearly wood nymph, momphid moths, and primrose moths. The seeds of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' are consumed by birds including the eastern goldfinch and mourning dove.

Pollinators

The most common pollinator of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' are bees. Specific species of bees, such as ''Melissodes frimbriatus'' and ''Lasioglossum oenothera,'' seem to specialize on ''Oenothera fruticosa''. In addition to these specialized pollinators, ''Oenothera fruticosa'' also attracts songbirds, hummingbirds, and an array of non-bee pollinators to its yellow petals. ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is susceptible to heterospecific pollen transfer from pollinators.

Seed morphology and propagation

The seeds of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' are approximately 1-3 mm long and are arranged in two rows within each locule. They also contain a persistent endotegmen that is one cell layer thick. In shape, the seeds are club-like and taper near the stem. The capsule of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' is approximately 1 inch in width and are visible May through November. The plants can be propagated by taking tip cuttings and is best conducted with adult plants at the beginning of its growing season (early spring) or late in its growing season (fall). Seeds must be planted in spring or fall and need to be germinated at approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit.