Scientific Family
Onagraceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or perennial
Height
To 6-1/2 feet
Riparian
Yes
Rosette with erect stems and long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers emerge in small clusters at the top of the stems and upper leaf axils.
Flower spike open, petals are 1/4 to 3/4 inch long; sepals often marked red. The internodes between fruits are usually longer than the fruits. The longest stem and leaf hairs usually with red blister-like bases.
Habitat
Meadows, shrublands, disturbed areas. Moist openings in forests. Occurs in wetlands and non-wetlands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
6500
Flower Characteristics
Sepals often have reddish marks. Petals are 1/4 to 3/4 inch long. Flowers open in the evening.
Flower color
Yellow fading to pale orange
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal leaves are spoon-shaped to 4 inches long. Stem leaves are lance-shaped to oval to 1 foot long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide, narrowly lance-shaped, straight.
Fruit type
Capsule
Less than 1/8 inch, angled, irregularly pitted.