What flower is this?
- Thread starter Tess
- Start date
Bee-blossoms or Butterfly wands (Oenothera lindheimeri and hybrids, formerly Gaura lindheimeri) is a perennial herb originally native to eastern Texas and western Louisiana, but now grown widely as a colorful and drought-tolerant garden plant.
Other species of Oenothera section Gaura occur throughout much of North America.
Recent taxonomy now treats Gaura as a synonym of the genus Oenothera, both in the Evening-primrose Family (Onagraceae).
An alternative arrangement that would also preserve monophyly, would place some species now in Oenothera, as being in Gaura.
Both of these delineations will cause some horticultural confusion, as Gaura, as traditionally defined, appears quite distinct from most of the traditional Evening-primroses and Sun-cups in Oenothera.
Of course, like other now-defunct botanical names, for example, Zauschneria, the name 'Gaura' may continue to be used as a common name for the garden plants.
Other species of Oenothera section Gaura occur throughout much of North America.
Recent taxonomy now treats Gaura as a synonym of the genus Oenothera, both in the Evening-primrose Family (Onagraceae).
An alternative arrangement that would also preserve monophyly, would place some species now in Oenothera, as being in Gaura.
Both of these delineations will cause some horticultural confusion, as Gaura, as traditionally defined, appears quite distinct from most of the traditional Evening-primroses and Sun-cups in Oenothera.
Of course, like other now-defunct botanical names, for example, Zauschneria, the name 'Gaura' may continue to be used as a common name for the garden plants.