Oenothera deltoides – “Dune Primrose”

Also Known As: Dune Evening Primrose, Devil’s Lantern, Lion-in-a-Cage, Birdcage Evening Primrose, Basket Evening Primrose
Family: Evening Primrose (Onagraceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Sep
Form: Perennial herb
Habitat: Sandy flats, roadsides and human-disturbed areas
Leaves: Oblanceolate with pointy tip, sometimes pinnately-lobed, sometimes toothed or with scalloped margins; basal
Translation: “Oenothera” is Greek in origin, but its exact meaning is disputed. According to Michael L. Charters: “One source says that this name derives from the Greek oinos, ‘wine,’ and thera, ‘to imbibe,’ because an allied European plant was thought to induce a taste for wine. However, Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names gives an alternate meaning for thera as ‘booty,’ but also suggests that Oenothera could be a corruption of the Greek onotheras from onos, ‘ass,’ [donkey] and thera, ‘hunting, chase, pursuit’ or ther, ‘wild beast.’ The root ther also can have the meaning of ‘summer.’ What this might have to do with the actual plant is unexplained.” “Deltoides” is Greek for “like delta,” meaning the Greek letter delta, Δ, and refers to the triangular shape of the leaf.
Notes: Flowers start out white and showy white and fade to pink and raggedy. When the plant dries out at the end of its growing season, its branches curl up into a shape that resembles a lantern, cage or basket, hence the common names. This roundish form can break off at ground level and roll along the ground scattering seeds as it goes. This efficient means of self-dispersal makes the plant a common sight along roadsides and in other disturbed areas.
Native American Uses: The Cahuilla Native harvested the Sphinx Moth caterpillars for food when they were plentiful.
Animal Associations: Food plant for the White-Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel. The flower’s pollen is thread-like and sticky and cannot be easily collected by most bees, except for the Mining Bee, which has specially-shaped pollen bristles on its legs for collecting it efficiently. The flower is a lurking spot for a yellow-green Crab Spider that hides among the anthers awaiting prey; it’s coloration is so close to the flower’s that it is nearly invisible. Because the flower opens late in the day and stays open all night, it attracts the primarily nocturnal Sphinx moth, which is able to access the nectar deep down at the base of the flower with its long proboscis (a tongue-like, tube-shaped organ that sucks liquid). Pollen rubs off on the moth’s legs and body as it feeds and is then transferred to the next flower it visits. The leaves and flowers are the primary food source of the moth’s larvae.