Yellow Desert Evening Primrose
Oenothera primiveris
Color: Yellow
Common name: Yellow Desert Evening Primrose
Latin name: Oenothera primiveris
Family: ONAGRACEAE
Description: This is a hairy annual herb producing a dense rosette of leaves in which the inflorescence occurs; there is generally no true stem. The showy flowers arise from the axils of the leaves. Each flower has yellow heart-shaped petals up to 4 centimeters in length which fade orange or red with age. The fruit is a straight or curving capsule up to 6 centimeters in length.
Leaf: The green or grayish leaves are up to 28 cm long and have wavy or crinkled edges, or are cut into deep lobes or teeth.
Range: Desert
Habitat: Sandy flats, low hills, dune margins, arroyos
Elevation: 30–1400 m.
Flowering time: Mar-May
Notes: This photo was taken on April 6, 2004 near Cuddeback Lake, Kern County, California. Oenothera primiveris is a dicot that is native to California and is found only slightly beyond California borders. Distribution outside California: ± sw US, n Mexico.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
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