Oenothera hybrid

treecreeper · #1 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 04:26 PM

Clare O'Reilly, in her revision of Francis Rose's Wild Flower Key, has added a note on Evening Primrose hybrids, specifically on the species:

Large Flowered Evening Primrose Oenothera glazioviana (formerly O. erythrosepala)
Common Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis
Small Flowered Evening Primrose O. cambrica (formerly O. parviflora)

She says hybrid swarms between these are common and plants found are more likely to be a hybrid than one of the pure species. I would appreciate comments on this one:

It appears to be intermediate between O. glazioviana and O. cambrica. Both parents (at least plants looking like the pure species) were present, and abundant, nearby.

Characteristics of pictured plant:

* stem red above and covered with red bulbous-based hairs
* leaves not wavy edged (i.e. no hint of Fragrant Evening Primrose O. stricta)
* sepals green - no red in them
* petals like O. cambrica, about an inch long and wide
* whole carpel with stigma lobes in line with style (as photo) equalling filaments, but style on its own much shorter

pleb · #2 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:20 PM

There is an article by John C. Bowra in BSBI News No.76 pp 64-71 on hybridisation between O. glazioviana, O. biennis and O. cambrica in South Lancashire. Have you seen it? I haven't yet read it but it seems relevant to your plant. When I have studied it I shall get back to you if I can make sense of it.

Phil

treecreeper · #3 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 11:34 PM

I haven't seen that Phil. I suppose I ought to be in BSBI!

Tiggrx · #4 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 06:31 PM

You can find the article online here http://www.watsonia.org.uk/BSBINews76.pdf

pleb · #5 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 06:49 PM

The article puts forward the view that the large majority of British plants are part of hybrid swarms due primarily to promiscous hybridisation and annual backcrossing.

My local plants seem to be mostly O. glazioviana with a few O. cambrica. Any awkward plants I come across I tend to ignore.

Phil

KeenTeen17 · #6 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 06:56 PM

I read that in one of my friends flower guides. They said the Oenothera plants on the Lancashire Sand Dunes are most likely hybrids

treecreeper · #7 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

You can find the article online here http://www.watsonia.org.uk/BSBINews76.pdf

Thanks for this link Tiggrx. The funny thing is, I've been recording Oenothera plants for years but until I'd read the note in Rose I'd never seen a hybrid. Perhaps you see what you expect. If the books don't mention hybrids you unconsciously slot any find into the nearest species.