Oenothera elata is a species of Oenothera belonging to the family Onagraceae, known by the common name Hooker's evening primrose or tall evening primrose. Subspecies include hookeri, hirsutissima, longisima, jamesii, villosa and elata. It is native to much of western and central North America. The plants are quite tall, especially the hookeri subspecies, native to California, which can reach about 1.8 meters (6 feet) height."Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", p. 612. Könemann, 2004. The plants are found along roadsides, in moist meadows, or in woodland, from sea level up to in elevation.
Description The stout, usually reddish stem has many long, narrow leaves, above a basal rosette. At its top is a large, open cluster of 2- to 4-inch wide yellow flowers with 4 large petals and protruding yellow stamens and 4-branched pistil, often covered in sticky pollen. The fragrant flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning orange or red.
Taxonomy Oenothera elata was scientifically described and given its accepted name by Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1823. It has synonyms of the species or one of its three subspecies according to Plants of the World Online.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Oenothera biennis f. hookeri 1966 form subsp. hookeri ≡ hom. Oenothera biennis var. hirsutissima 1873 variety subsp. hirsutissima ≡ hom. Oenothera biennis var. hookeri 1967 variety subsp. hookeri ≡ hom. Oenothera communis var. hookeri 1909 variety subsp. hookeri ≡ hom. Oenothera corymbosa 1818 species subsp. hirsutissima = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera elata var. hirsutissima 1997 variety subsp. hirsutissima ≡ hom. Oenothera elata subsp. texensis 1987 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera franciscana 1914 species subsp. hookeri = het. Oenothera grisea 1985 species subsp. hirsutissima = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera guttata 1933 species subsp. hirsutissima = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera hewettii 1919 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hirsutissima 1901 species subsp. hirsutissima ≡ hom. Oenothera hookeri 1840 species subsp. hookeri ≡ hom. Oenothera hookeri subsp. angustifolia 1949 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri var. angustifolia 1915 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. euhookeri 1949 subspecies subsp. hookeri ≡ hom., not validly publ. Oenothera hookeri var. euhookeri 1949 variety subsp. hookeri ≡ hom., not validly publ. Oenothera hookeri var. franciscana 1957 variety subsp. hookeri = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. grisea 1949 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. hewettii 1913 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri var. hewettii 1957 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. hirsutissima 1949 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima ≡ hom. Oenothera hookeri var. hirsutissima 1939 variety subsp. hirsutissima ≡ hom. Oenothera hookeri var. irrigua 1915 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. montereyensis 1949 subspecies subsp. hookeri = het. Oenothera hookeri var. montereyensis 1970 variety subsp. hookeri = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. ornata 1949 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri var. ornata 1949 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri var. semiglabra 1915 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri var. simsiana 1957 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera hookeri subsp. venusta 1949 subspecies subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera irrigua 1913 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera jepsonii 1891 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera macbrideae 1913 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera macbrideae var. ornata 1957 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera montereyensis 1985 species subsp. hookeri = het. Oenothera ornata 1913 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera salicifolia 1824 species subsp. elata = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera simsiana 1828 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera spectabilis 1835 species subsp. hirsutissima = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera venusta 1914 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Oenothera venusta var. grisea 1914 variety subsp. hirsutissima = het. Onagra elata 1838 species O. elata ≡ hom. Onagra guttata 1915 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Onagra hookeri 1896 species subsp. hookeri ≡ hom. Onagra kunthiana 1835 species subsp. elata = het. Onagra macbrideae 1911 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Onagra ornata 1911 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Onagra salicifolia 1835 species subsp. elata = het. Onagra spectabilis 1835 species subsp. hirsutissima = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Uses The Zuni people apply a poultice of the powdered flower of the hookeri subspecies and saliva at night to swellings.
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References
Further reading
External links Calflora Database: Oenothera elata (Hooker's evening primrose) Jepson Manual eFlora treatment of Oenothera elata Photo gallery