Oenothera albicaulis is a New World plant in the evening primrose family. It is known by the common names prairie evening-primrose, white-stem evening-primrose, whitish evening primrose, or whitest evening primrose.
Taxonomy Oenothera albicaulis was scientifically described and named by Frederick Traugott Pursh in 1813. It is classified in the genus Oenothera, part of the family Onagraceae. It has no accepted subspecies or varieties, but has synonyms according to Plants of the World Online.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Anogra albicaulis 1894 species ≡ hom. Anogra bradburiana 1917 species = het. Anogra confusa 1934 species = het. Anogra ctenophylla 1913 species = het. Anogra douglasiana 1835 species = het. Anogra leptophylla 1913 species = het. Anogra pinnatifida 1835 species = het. Baumannia pinnatifida 1835 species = het. Oenothera albicaulis 1818 species = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera albicaulis f. acaulis 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. anthoxantha 1909 form = het.Oenothera albicaulis subvar. coquimbensis 1909 subvariety = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. decumbens 1909 form = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera albicaulis f. dentata 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. erosa 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. mucronata 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. pinnatifida 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis f. sinuata 1909 form = het. Oenothera albicaulis var. tigrina 1909 variety = het. Oenothera albicaulis var. xanthosperma 1909 variety = het. Oenothera bradburiana 1840 species = het. Oenothera ctenophylla 1941 species = het. Oenothera leptophylla 1840 species = het. Oenothera nuttallii 1830 species = het., not validly publ. Oenothera pallida var. leptophylla 1840 variety = het. Oenothera pinnatifida 1818 species = het. Oenothera pinnatifida 1827 species = het., nom. illeg. Oenothera pinnatifida var. integrifolia 1849 variety = het. Oenothera purshii 1832 species ≡ hom., nom. superfl. Oenothera sinuata var. bicolor 1909 variety = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Distribution Oenothera albicaulis is native to North America, in the United States (Arizona; Colorado; Montana; New Mexico; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; and Utah), and in Mexico (in Chihuahua state).
Uses The Zuni people rub the chewed blossoms on the bodies of young girls so that they can dance well and ensure rain.
References
External links Picture of an Oenothera albicaulis flower, from Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness in association with Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences