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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Three Lobed Evening Primrose (Oenothera triloba)

Three Lobed Evening Primrose is also known as Stemless Evening-Primrose.

Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant which can reach 20cm in height (8inches). The plant has almost no erect stem.

Leaves: The leaves are alternate. Each leaf is lobed. The leaves are all low to the ground.

Flowers: The flowers have 4 Regular Parts and are up to 4.5cm wide (1.75 inches). They are yellow. 
Blooms first appear in mid spring and continue into early summer.

Fruit: Woody, four sided capsules in a tight group directly on the ground

Habitat: Dry open areas and lawns.

Range: From southern New England southwest to Texas and Oklahoma.

Lore: The flowers of this plant are timed to open for their nocturnal pollinators, which include the Sphinx Moths.

Similar Species: Bigfruit Evening-primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa AKA Missouri Evening-Primrose (O. Missouriensis) is similar but has leaves that are entire.
Showy Evening-Primrose or Pinkladies (O. Speciosa) has pink or white flowers and has escaped cultivation (considered native to North America) and is now found throughout the southern states.
Most other Evening-Primroses in our area are taller.

Reference: 2bnThewild.com

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