Oenothera lavandulifolia

Oenothera lavandulifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Oenothera
Species:
O. lavandulifolia
Binomial name
Oenothera lavandulifolia
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Calylophus hartwegii subsp. lavanulifolia
    • Calylophus hartwegii var. lavanulifolia
    • Calylophus lavandulifolia
    • Galpinsia lavandulifolia
    • Oenothera hartwegii var. lavandulifolia
    • Oenothera lavandulifolia var. typica

Oenothera lavandulifolia, commonly called lavender leaf sundrops, is a low-growing perennial plant in the evening primrose family found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.[2]: 101 [3]

Inflorescence and fruit

From May to July it blooms with striking yellow flowers that fade to shades of orange or lavender as the flower dries up.[2]: 101 

Taxonomy

Oenothera lavandulifolia was scientifically described and named by John Torrey and Asa Gray in 1840. It is part of the genus Oenothera in the family Onagraceae. It has no accepted subspecies or varieties, but it has 6 synonyms. It has, at times, been considered a variety or subspecies of Oenothera hartwegii.[1]

Table of Synonyms[1]
Name Year Rank Notes
Calylophus hartwegii subsp. lavanulifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) Towner & Raven 1970 subspecies ≡ hom.
Calylophus hartwegii var. lavanulifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) Shinners 1964 variety ≡ hom.
Calylophus lavandulifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) P.H.Raven 1964 species ≡ hom.
Galpinsia lavandulifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) Small 1903 species = het.
Oenothera hartwegii var. lavandulifolia (Torr. & A.Gray) S.Watson 1873 variety = het.
Oenothera lavandulifolia var. typica Munz 1929 variety = het., not validly publ.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Habitat and range

It grows in blackbrush scrub and mixed desert shrub up into pinyon juniper woodland and ponderosa pine forest communities, as far north as South Dakota, and up to 8,500 feet (2,600 m) in elevation in the southwest.[2]: 101 

References

  1. ^ a b c "Oenothera lavandulifolia Torr. & A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Canyon Country Wildflowers, Damian Fagan, 2nd ed., 2012, Morris Bush Publishing, LLC. in cooperation with Canyonlands Natural History Association, ISBN 978-0-7627-7013-7
  3. ^ NRCS. "Calylophus lavandulifolius". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 24 May 2018.