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Drawing of Oenothera fruitcosa found in Wiki Commons

Introduction

Oenothera fruitcosa, commonly known as sundrops, is an early summer perennial plant which is part of the Onagraceae family, otherwise known as the evening primrose family. The common sundrop is a wildflower that is found on the eastern parts of the US and Canada. Oenothera fruticosa is considered a weed in some garden settings due to its aggressive growing nature, being found to triple in size every growing season. Oenothera fruticosa can be identified by its bright-colored yellow petals that sits on top of a 2-3 inch stem . This species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus, which is identified in the name of the species as L. .

Description

Oenothera fruticosa is an evening primrose which stands in a height range of 16-36 inches and is a perennial wildflower. Leaves are alternating and lance-shaped, growing 2-3 inches and pubescent . The stem is straight, pubescent, and ranges in color from red-green . The petals are round and 1-2 inches long. Flowering is in spring to early summer, on tops of red stems .

Taxonomy

This species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus, which is identified in the name of the species as L. . The taxonomy of this plant is complex as illustrated by the numerous synomyms, forms, and variates.

Synonyms for Oenothera fruticosa:

• Oenothera fruticosa f. angustifolia H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. differta Millsp.
• Oenothera fruticosa f. diversifolia H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. eamesii S.F.Blake
• Oenothera fruticosa var. goodmanii Munz
• Oenothera fruticosa f. hirsuta (Nutt.) H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. humifusa C.K.Allen
• Oenothera fruticosa var. incana (Nutt.) Hook.
• Oenothera fruticosa f. incana (Nutt.) Voss
• Oenothera fruticosa var. linearifolia Hook.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. linearis (Michx.) S.Watson
• Oenothera fruticosa f. lucida H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. maculata H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. microcarpa Fernald
• Oenothera fruticosa f. phyllopus (Hook.) Voss
• Oenothera fruticosa var. phyllopus Hook.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. pilosella Small & A.Heller
• Oenothera fruticosa f. sessilicarpa H.Lév.
• Oenothera fruticosa var. subglobosa (Small) Munz
• Oenothera fruticosa var. vera Hook.
• Oenothera hybrida var. ambigua (Nutt.) S.F.Blake
• Oenothera incana Nutt.
• Oenothera linearis Michx.
• Oenothera linearis var. angustifolia Pursh
• Oenothera linearis var. brevifolia Pursh
• Oenothera linearis var. eamesii B.L.Rob.
• Oenothera longipedicellata (Small) B.L.Rob.
• Oenothera mollissima Walter
• Oenothera riparia Nutt.
• Oenothera serotina Sweet
• Oenothera subglobosa (Small) Weath. & Griscom
• Oenothera subglobosa var. arenicola Weath. & Griscom
• Oenothera tetragona var. riparia (Nutt.) Munz
• Oenothera tetragona var. velutina (Pennell) Munz
• Onagra linkiana Spach
• Sphaerostigma arenicola A.Nelson

Distribution & Habitat

The Oenothera fruticosa has a vast range in the United States which consists of the eastern seaboard (New York- Florida) and as far west as Oklahoma. Within these regions, Oenothera fruticosa prefers lower elevations. In the state of North Carolina which is within its range, this species is found widely around the state except in the mountainous regions.Oenothera fruticosa grows best in full sun areas that have mostly acidic soil conditions and good drainage (sandy soils) . The common sundrop is relatively resilient to drought, shade, extreme heat, and varying soil pH. Oenothera fruticosa is mostly found in grassy clearings, meadows, and along roadways in its native range .

Uses

In the modern day, the sundrop is not used for much of anything besides gardening. However, historically Oenothera fruticosa was used by Native American tribes for a multitude of aliments. The tribes that used this species included the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Ojibwa . Although the tribes differ, the reasons that they used the narrow-leaf evening primrose, were all similar. Its uses included helping with stomach issues, weightloss, bruising, and hemorrhoids . It is unknown at this time if Oenothera fruticosa is medically effective. Oenothera fruticosa has been included in research for breast cancer . In regards to gardening, the sundrop is used in a verity of different ways. For landscaping, Oenothera fruticosa is used as a barrier or border plant to help separate areas from one another . Not only is the sundrop used in landscaping, but gardeners include this plant in pollinator gardens, rock gardens, cottage gardens, and native gardens for their ability to attract pollinators and their beautiful yellow petals . The Narrow-Leaf Evening Primrose is preyed on by species of pearly wood nymph, momphid moths, and primrose moths . The seeds specifically are consumed by birds including the eastern goldfinch and mourning dove .

Pollinators

For Oenothera fruticosa, the specific pollinator that visits this species the most are bees. Specific species of bees, such as Melissodes frimbriatus and Lasioglossum oenothera, seem to specialize with Oenothera fruticosa . In addition to these specialized pollinators, Oenothera fruticosa also attracts songbirds, hummingbirds, and an array of non-bee pollinators to its yellow petals . Oenothera fruticosa is susceptible to heterospecific pollen transfer from in pollinators .

Seed Morphology & Propagation

The seeds of Oenothera fruticosa are approximately 1-3 mm long and are arranged in two rows within each locules. They also contain a persistent endotegmen that is one cell layer thick. In shape, the seeds are club-like and taper near the stem . The capsul of Oenothera fruticosa are approximately 1 inch in width and are in full display in the months May through November . The plants can be propagated by taking tip cuttings and is best conducted with adult plants at the beginning of its growing season (early spring) or late in its growing season (fall). Seeds must be planted in spring or fall and need to be germinated at approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit .