Oenothera triloba
| Oenothera triloba | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Onagraceae |
| Genus: | Oenothera |
| Species: | O. triloba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Oenothera triloba | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Oenothera triloba, with common names stemless evening primrose and sessile evening primrose[3] is a flowering plant in the primrose family. It is native to North America, where it is primarily found in northern Mexico and in the south-central United States.[4] It is found in dry, open areas such as glades, prairies, and sometimes even lawns. It appears to respond positively to soil disturbance.[5][6]
It is a winter annual that produces large yellow flowers in the spring. The flowers open near sunset.[5]
Taxonomy
Oenothera triloba was scientifically described and named by Thomas Nuttall in 1821. It is classified in the genus Oenothera as part of the family Onagraceae. According to Plants of the World Online it has no accepted varieties, but it has 8 synonyms including five species and three varieties.[2]
| Name | Year | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavauxia nuttalliana Spach | 1835 | species | = het. |
| Lavauxia triloba (Nutt.) Bartl. | 1837 | species | ≡ hom. |
| Lavauxia triloba var. watsonii Britton | 1894 | variety | = het. |
| Lavauxia watsonii Small | 1903 | species | = het. |
| Oenothera rhizocarpa Spreng. | 1825 | species | = het. |
| Oenothera roemeriana Scheele | 1849 | species | = het. |
| Oenothera triloba var. parviflora S.Watson | 1877 | variety | = het. |
| Oenothera triloba var. watsonii (Britton) F.C.Gates | 1939 | variety | = het. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | |||
Uses
Among the Zuni people, the plant is used as an ingredient of "schumaakwe cakes" and used externally for rheumatism and swelling.[7] They also grind the roots and use them as food.[8]
References
- ^ NatureServe (5 September 2025). "Oenothera triloba". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Oenothera triloba Nutt". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ USDA GRIN Taxonomy, retrieved 15 June 2016
- ^ Kartesz, John T. (2014). "Oenothera triloba". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ a b Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Online
- ^ "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
- ^ Matilda Coxe Stevenson (1915). Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30. p. 55.
- ^ Albert B. Reagan (1929). "Plants used by the White Mountain Apache Indians of Arizona". Wisconsin Archeologist. 8: 143–161.
