Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) Blooming At Night

April 21st, 2012. The Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) is widely distributed in Georgia but, except for the early morning when the flowers might still be opened, we only see them closed. We stopped at Fox Lake in the Clybel Wildlife Management Area - Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and I spotted a couple of flowers fully opened in the dark – the way they should be seen.

The flowers usually look like this when we see them during the day.

In the early morning, we might be lucky enough to see them open, but not fully open. Then I stumbled on them...

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in the dark when they were fully opened. I photographed these with artificial light. They are quite striking when they are fully opened.

Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose) is native to the eastern and central United States and in California. It also grows in Ontario, Canada. In Georgia, it grows in many counties throughout the state. Oenothera laciniata is one of three Oenothera species with yellow flowers that grow in this area. The others are Oenothera biennis (Common Evening Primrose) and Oenothera fruticosa (Narrowleaf Evening Primrose).
Click on an image to view a larger image

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose, Cut-leaved Evening Primrose)
- Missouri Plants: Oenothera laciniata

Distribution:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Oenothera laciniata

Related post:
- Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)

Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)

Oenothera laciniata is known by the common names of Cutleaf Evening Primrose and Cut-leaved Evening Primrose and is one of three Oenothera species that grows in this area; the others are Oenothera biennis (Common Evening-primrose) and Oenothera fruticosa (Narrowleaf Evening Primrose) which flower later in the year. At Fort Yargo State Park, Oenothera laciniata grows in open areas along the trail eastward from the pedestrian bridge (segment 2). Flowers are open in the early to mid-morning but close during the heat of the day.

The plant – in flower. Again, this plant and flower blends into its background.

Growing along the trail in Fort Yargo State Park

A closer view of a plant showing the bloom and the characteristic cutleaf morphology of the leave of a mature plant

A mature flower with pollen

A flower after pollination

Some flowers are pinkish

A ‘spent’ flower. These flowers tend to be orange. When I first discovered these plants, they only had spent flowers so I spent some time trying to identify an orange flower only to find that the flowers are yellow.

After the main blooming season the plant may grow lanky.

Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose) is native to the eastern and centrai United States and in California. It also grows in Ontario, Canada.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Oenothera laciniata

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)
- Native & Naturalized Plants of Georgia and the Carolinas: Oenothera laciniata
- Missouri Plants: Oenothera laciniata

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower