21 August 2024
Once I took this picture at Hays Woods the previous day, I knew the plant’s title — biennial gaura — however only for a laugh I requested PictureThis to spot it. It mentioned “Biennial Gaura, a species of Night time Primrose.” Night time Primrose was once a wonder. I didn’t suppose they had been comparable.
Not unusual night primrose (Oenothera biennis) has 4 flippantly spaced petals with stamens and pistil within the heart. Regardless that the flower seems to be open right here, it if truth be told opens extra broadly within the night.
Biennial gaura (Oenothera gaura) additionally has 4 petals however they’re all on one aspect of the stem with stamens and pistil drooping under. The form of the flower seems “abnormal” to me and “night” doesn’t appear to use both. The flower seems love it remains open all day.
On the other hand, research of the previous genus Gaura led to it all to be absorbed into Oenothera (Night time Primrose ) in 2007. The rationale I used to be stunned 17 years later is that my hardback replica of Newcomb’s Wildflower Information was once revealed in 1997. I will have to depend extra on apps at the moment.
Listed here are further pictures of each plants for additional comparability.
Each vegetation are weedy species so that they’re beautiful simple to search out within the box. Search for not unusual night primrose in sunny or most commonly sunny puts, ceaselessly alongside trails. Biennial gaura needs complete solar and dry, even rocky, soil. I see it within the powerline reduce at Hays Woods.
Word that biennial gaura plants are a lot smaller than night primrose. Tiny however gorgeous.