Oenothera Pubescens, Silky Evening Primrose

Oenothera pubescens is most common in south and central Arizona; its range extends to a few locations in southwest New Mexico and the Big Bend area of west Texas. The common name, silky evening primrose, refers to the covering of relatively long, spreading hairs on the stems, leaves, pedicels and ovaries, mixed with shorter glandular hairs, and strigose hairs. Leaves are lined with pointed, irregular lobes, or teeth.

Flowers are somewhat smaller than those of many other species in this genus, around 1.5 inches in diameter, formed of four lemon yellow, obovate petals, generally non-overlapping. The eight greenish-yellow stamens are shorter than the style, which is topped by a four-lobed, cross-shaped stigma. The green sepals are hairy, recurved, attached to a slender hypanthium up to 2 inches long. Petals become orange as they wither. Flowers are solitary, from the upper leaf nodes. Buds are pendent.