Scientific Name | Oenothera cespitosa ssp. cespitosa (Oenthera caespitosa ssp. caespitosa) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | OECAC2 |
Common Name | Tufted Evening Primrose | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 27383 |
Family | Onagraceae (Evening Primrose) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Plains to montane (4600 to 10000 ft.); dry soils in grasslands and among sagebrush. Plant: Perennial growing in tufts, up to 12 inches tall, usually stemless; herbage with very short hairs. Leaves: Basal, petiolate leaves with lanceolate to elliptic blades, 4 to 10 inches long (including petiole) and 3/8 to 1-inch across; margins dentate or irregularly pinnatifid to entire. Inflorescence: Large, white, showy, solitary flower borne from among the leaves on a short pedicel up to 1-1/4 inches long, petals turning dark rose-purple with age; greenish to reddish floral tube 1-1/2 to 5-1/5 inches long; 4 downward-pointing sepals 3/4 to 2 inches long; protruding style with 4-pronged stigma and 8 protruding white stamens; flowers open around sunset and wilt the next day. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SEINet and UW Burke Herbarium. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2022
Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County