Oenothera heterophylla Spach ssp. orientalis W. Dietr., P.H. Raven & W.L. Wagner

Oriental Evening Primrose

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Oriental Evening Primrose is a native herbaceous perennial in the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae). It can be found in west Alabama. Oriental Evening Primrose occurs on roadside, on deep sand deposits, and in scrubby woods. It is a short-lived perennial with a taproot system. Stems are erect, pubescent and glandular (at least within the inflorescence), branched, and green or reddish in color. Leaves are in basal rosettes and cauline. The basal leaves are usually absent at flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, petiolate (petioles often very short), elliptic, oblanceolate or lanceolate in outline, with lobed or toothed margins. Flowers are produced in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers open near sunset. Each flower has four bright yellow petals. The flowers fade to orangish-pink. The fruit is a lanceoloid capsule. Oriental Evening Primrose occurs in two widely disjunct locations—west Alabama and southern Arkansas. It is listed as an S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state) and globally as a G4 species (imperiled globally because of rarity or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors).—A. Diamond.

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Native S2 (State Rank) G4 (Global Rank)

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