Oenothera sect. Eremia
(when present) ascending to erect, branched or unbranched.
in a basal rosette, sometimes also cauline, (1.4–)6–15(–28) cm;
blade margins sinuate-dentate to subentire.
solitary flowers in axils of leaves.
opening near sunset, with strong, sweet, lemony scent or pungent, spermaceous scent, to weakly scented in autogamous populations;
bud apex curved downward by recurved floral tube, becoming erect before anthesis, quadrangular, without free tips;
floral tube (20–)26–60(–72) mm;
sepals separating individually or in pairs;
petals deep yellow, fading reddish orange to purple, drying purple, obcordate to obovate;
stigma deeply divided into 4 linear lobes.
hard, woody in age, sigmoid or curved to nearly straight, lanceoloid to ovoid, 4-angled, apex gradually tapering to a sterile beak, dehiscent 1/4–2/3 their length;
sessile.
usually numerous, in 2 rows per locule, obovoid to oblanceoloid, surface papillose, coarsely rugose on distal 1/2 abaxially, adaxial face thickened with a cavity that externally appears as a pore and groove along raphae.
= 14.
Oenothera sect. Eremia
Species 1.
Section Eremia consists of a single species that occurs in the Chihuahuan, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
