Oenothera simulans

Oenothera simulans
Photo taken by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Onagraceae
Genus:	Oenothera
Species:	O. simulans
Binomial name
Oenothera simulans Michx.
Natural range of Oenothera simulans from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: southern beeblossom

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Gaura angustifolia Michaux; Gaura angustifolia var. angustifolia

Description

Observed to be an abundant weedy species in roadside sods (FSU Herbarium).

"Usually coarse, branched annuals or perennials. Leaves mostly alternate. Inflorescence terminal, spike-like with or without axillary branches from upper leaves or bracts. Petals white to pink; stigmas 3-4 lobed. Fruit woody, indehiscent." - Radford et al 1964

"Plant to 2m tall, stem strigose. Leaves narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, strigillose to glabrous, to 8 cm long and 1 cm wide, reduced upward, frequently fascicled, acute, remotely denticulate or serrulate, the basal sinuate; sessile. Spikes usually branched, main branch to 3 dm long, strigose; bracteoles caduceus. Sepals 3.5-6 mm long; petals 2.5-3 mm long; anthers 1.2-1.5 mm long; styles exserted ca. 5.5 mm. fruits acutely 3-4 angled, sides concave, canescent, ovoid, 6-8 mm long, 2-3 mm broad; pedicels 1-2 mm long." - Radford et al 1964

Ecology

Habitat

This species can be found in marshy depressions surrounded by live oak hammocks, pine-oak woodlands, grass and succulent cover, beach hammocks, longleaf pine forests, old fields, along oak scrub edges, and bordering salt marshes (FSU Herbarium). O. simulans has been observed to grow in moist loamy, loose, and silty sands in open areas (FSU Herbarium). This species is "one of the most aggressive pioneers in disturbed areas" such as plowed fire lanes, along roadsides, vacant lots, clear cut pinewoods, and along fence rows (FSU Herbarium). Associated species includes Pinus, Quercus, Papaya, Forestiera, Bumelia, Eugenia, Piscidia, Agave, Yucca, Juniperus, Sabal, Bumelia lanuginosa, Crateagus floridana, Pinus elliottii, Myrica cerifera, Pinus palustris, and Conzya (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

This species has been observed flowering from March through October and Fruiting March through November (FSU Herbarium).

Fire ecology

This species has been found in areas of open burned pine-oak woodlands (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Robert K. Godfrey, Loran C. Anderson, Robert Kral, Gwynn W. Ramsey, Richard S. Mitchell, Cecil R Slaughter, Marc Minno, Mary Atkinson, O. Lakela, R. W. Long, Dorothy Laker, Andre F. Clewell, Robert Blaisdell, Jane Brockmann, Sidney McDaniel, D. B. Ward, Robert J Lemaire, Ira L. Wiggins, Dorothy B. W D. B. Creager,iggins, Elmer C. Prichard, George R. Cooley, Carroll E. Wood, Jr., Kenneth A. Wilson, Bian Tan, L. Baltzell, S. W. Leonard, R. Komarek, Leon Neel, R. F. Doren, and Annie Schmidt. States and Counties: Florida: Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Citrus, Columbia, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden,Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Monroe, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St Johns, Sumter, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla. Georgia: Thomas. Texas: Hardin.

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 754-6. Print.