Hairy evening primrose

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Hairy evening primrose

Hairy evening stem pubescence

Hairy evening primrose flower

Hairy evening primrose flower

Hairy evening habit

Hairy evening primrose flower

Hairy evening primrose petals, stamens and stigma

Hairy evening stem pubescence

Hairy evening primrose stem and leaves

Morphology

Stem

Erect, simple or much-branched above, densely appressed-hairy.

Leaves

Alternate, simple, sessile or short-stalked below, lanceolate, 3-6 inches long, .5-1.5 inches wide, grayish, appressed-hairy; margins wavy-toothed to nearly entire.

Inflorescence

Spikes, simple or branched, terminal.

Flower

1 to 1.5 inches wide, floral tubes .75 to 1.5 inches long; sepals 4, .5 to .75 inch long, bending abruptly backward, nearly glabrous or hairy; tips pointed; petals 4, obovate, 1/3 to 2/3 inch long, yellow, fading orange; tips slightly notched; stamens 8, nearly as long as petals; stigma with 4 linear lobes.

Fruit

Capsules, cylindric, .75 to 1.5 inches long, hairy; seeds small, egg-shaped, dark brown to black, often purple-spotted.

Ecology

Habitat

Prairie hillsides, waste areas, roadsides, open woods, and stream and lake edges, in dry or damp soils.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

The Navajo mixed the dried leaves with tobacco and smoked it to bring good luck hunting.

Additional Notes