Oenothera deltoides

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Oenothera deltoides
Dune Primrose.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. deltoides
Binomial name
Oenothera deltoides
Subspecies [2]
  • O. d. subsp. ambigua
  • O. d. subsp. cognata
  • O. d. subsp. deltoides
  • O. d. subsp. howellii
  • O. d. subsp. julpunensis
  • O. d. subsp. piperi

Oenothera deltoides is a species of evening primrose known by several common names, including birdcage evening primrose, basket evening primrose, lion in a cage, and devil's lantern. It is native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in sandy habitats from desert to beach.

Contents

The plant is grayish with basal, deltoid leaves. The large white flowers turn pinkish as they mature. When the plants die, the stems curl upward and form the "birdcage" for which the common name is derived.

Taxonomy

Oenothera deltoides was scientifically describe and named by John Torrey and John C. Frémont in 1845. It is part of the genus Oenothera in the family Onagraceae. [2]

According to Plants of the World Online (POWO) it has six [subspecies]]. [2] One of these, the Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose (ssp. howellii), is a federally listed endangered species known from a few sandy spots in the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge just inland from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. [3]

Oenothera caespitosa is very similar, but lacks stems and has slightly larger flowers. [4]

Oenothera deltoides has 17 synonyms of the species or one of its subspecies according to POWO. [2] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Table of Synonyms
NameYearRankSynonym of:Notes
Anogra deltoidea(Torr. & Frém.) Small1896speciesO. deltoides≡ hom.
Anogra simplexSmall1896speciessubsp. ambigua≡ hom.
Oenothera albicaulis var. decumbensS.Watson1875varietysubsp. ambigua= het.
Oenothera ambiguaS.Watson1879speciessubsp. ambigua≡ hom., nom. illeg.
Oenothera deltoides var. ambiguaMunz1931varietysubsp. ambigua≡ hom.
Oenothera deltoides var. cineracea(Jeps.) Munz1931varietysubsp. deltoides= het.
Oenothera deltoides var. cognata(Jeps.) Munz1931varietysubsp. cognata≡ hom.
Oenothera deltoides var. decumbens(S.Watson) Munz1932varietysubsp. ambigua= het.
Oenothera deltoides f. floccosaMunz1931formsubsp. deltoides= het.
Oenothera deltoides f. glabrataMunz1931formsubsp. deltoides= het.
Oenothera deltoides var. howelliiMunz1949varietysubsp. howellii≡ hom.
Oenothera deltoides var. piperiMunz1931varietysubsp. piperi≡ hom.
Oenothera deltoides var. typicaMunz1931varietyO. deltoides≡ hom., not validly publ.
Oenothera kleiniiW.L.Wagner & S.W.Mill1984speciessubsp. deltoides= het.
Oenothera simplex(Small) Tidestr.1935speciessubsp. ambigua≡ hom., nom. illeg.
Oenothera trichocalyx var. cineraceaJeps.1925varietysubsp. deltoides= het.
Oenothera trichocalyx var. cognataJeps.1925varietysubsp. cognata≡ hom.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym  ; = heterotypic synonym

References

  1. NatureServe (1 August 2025). "Oenothera deltoides". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Oenothera deltoides Torr. & Frém". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  3. Center for Plant Conservation: Oenothera deltoides ssp. howellii
  4. Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 46. ISBN   0-87842-280-3. OCLC   25708726.
  5. "Oenothera deltoides subsp. ambigua (Munz) W.M.Klein". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  6. "Oenothera deltoides subsp. cognata (Jeps.) W.M.Klein". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  7. "Oenothera deltoides subsp. deltoides". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  8. "Oenothera deltoides subsp. howellii (Munz) W.M.Klein". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  9. "Oenothera deltoides subsp. piperi (Munz) W.M.Klein". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 4 September 2025.