Tufted Evening-primrose Oenothera cespitosa Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae)
Individual flowers live less than a day; white petals turn pink with death. The flowers open in the late afternoon and evening to be pollinated by night-flying insects and they close with bright sunlight. Linnaeus named this in 1753 using the name "Oenothera" which was given several thousand years ago by Theophrastus to another in this family. "Caespitosa," "growing in tufts" refers to the dense tufts of and stems.
Ground-hugging, stemless , 4-6" tall, with a of leaves with pointed tips. Large, white flowers have 4 heart-shaped petals and 8 yellow . are narrowly tapered to slender stems. The flowers open in late afternoon, close the next morning, and ultimately wither to pink or red-violet. roots often give rise to new plants.
