Gaura sinuata

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Family Onagraceae

Annual or perennial herbs, or shrubs , rarely trees to 30 m tall, often with epidermal oil cells , usually with internal phloem . Leaves simple , spirally arranged , opposite, or occasionally whorled , entire or toothed to pinnatifid ; stipules present and usually caducous , or absent. Flowers perfect and hermaphroditic or occasionally unisexual , actinomorphic or zygomorphic, (2-) 4(-7) -merous, axillary , in leafy spikes or racemes or solitary, or occasionally in panicles, all but Ludwigia with distinct floral tube , nectariferous within. Sepals green or colored , valvate . Petals as many as sepals or rarely absent, variously colored, imbricate or convolute and occasionally clawed. Stamens as many as sepals in one series or 2 × as many as sepals in 2 series [in Lopezia Cavanilles reduced to 2 or 1 plus 1 sterile staminode]; anthers versatile or basifixed , dithecal , sometimes cross-partitioned, opening by longitudinal slits; pollen grains almost always united by viscin threads, shed as monads , tetrads , or polyads . Ovary inferior, with as many carpels and locules as sepals, septa sometimes thin or absent at maturity; placentation axile or parietal , ovules 1 to many per locule, in 1 or several rows or clustered, anatropous , bitegmic; style 1; stigma with as many lobes as sepals or clavate to globose . Fruit a loculicidal capsule or indehiscent nut or berry. Seeds small, smooth or variously sculptured , sometimes with a coma [or wing ], with straight oily embryo, endosperm lacking.

Seventeen genera and ca. 650 species: widespread in temperate and subtropical areas, but best represented in W North America; six genera (two introduced ), 64 species (11 endemic, 11 introduced), and five natural hybrids (two endemic) in China.

Onagraceae are a well-defined, monophyletic family in the order Myrtales, with a sister relationship to Lythraceae. Within the order Myrtales, the Onagraceae are distinguished by a number of features including (1) a distinctive 4-nucleate embryo sac; (2) abundant raphides in vegetative cells ; (3) paracrystalline beaded pollen ektexine; and (4) pollen with viscin threads.

Some species of Oenothera are grown for the oil in their seeds, which contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), used for medicinal purposes. Several species of Onagraceae also are cultivated in China for their horticultural value, including species of Fuchsia Linnaeus (generally distinguished by having large, tubular , red or orange flowers and fleshy berries ) and Clarkia Pursh (distinguished by having stigmas with commissural lobes with dry, unicellular papillae, and dry, elongate capsules similar to those of Epilobium but lacking comas on the seeds) . The most commonly cultivated Fuchsia is F. ×hybrida Hort. and the related F. magellanica Lamarck in F. sect. Quelusia (Vandelli) Candolle from South America; F. triphylla Linnaeus, in F. sect. Fuchsia, from Hispaniola, is known from only one gathering in Fujian. Similarly, Clarkia amoena (Lehmann) A. Nelson & J. F. Macbride is widely cultivated in China, whereas C. pulchella Pursh is known from only one gathering in Xizang; both species are native to W North America. There are no naturalized species of either Clarkia or Fuchsia in China.[1]

Genus Gaura

Annual , biennial or perennial herbs, caulescent , with a taproot or woody branching caudex , occasionally with rhizomes. Stems one to several, simple or much branched. Leaves alternate, basal rosette leaves largest, decreasing in size upward, entire or toothed , often lyrate below, shortly petiolate below to subsessile above; stipules absent. Flowers perfect , zygomorphic to sometimes actinomorphic , forming a spicate raceme , not leafy, opening near sunset or near sunrise. Floral tube distinct , cylindric , deciduous soon after anthesis . Sepals (3 or) 4, reflexed , green or yellowish. Petals (3 or) 4, white, fading to reddish, rarely yellow, usually abruptly clawed. Stamens (6 or) 8. Anthers versatile; pollen shed singly. Ovary with (3 or) 4 locules, with 1(or 2) ovules per locule; stigma divided into (3 or) 4 short linear lobes , receptive all around, and subtended by a ± conspicuous ringlike indusium. Fruit an indehiscent nutlike capsule with hard walls, broadly fusiform to subcylindric , terete to sharply (3 or) 4-angled, sessile or basal portion sterile and stipelike. Seeds (1 or) 2-4 per capsule, irregularly ovoid . 2n = 14, 28, 42, 56.

Twenty-one species: C and E North America to C Mexico; one species (naturalized ) in China.

Recent molecular data demonstrate that Gaura, together with the unispecific genus Stenosiphon Spach, although comprising a monophyletic group, is embedded within the diverse genus Oenothera, and is best treated as part of that genus. The morphological characters used to delimit the genus-nutlike, indehiscent capsules with 1-4 seeds, flowers mostly zygomorphic, stigma lobes short-still delimit the group but now are viewed as specializations derived within Oenothera.[2]

Physical Description

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,278 meters (0 to 4,193 feet).[3]

Biology

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 24-36" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 5.6 • Maximum pH: 8.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full sun .

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. (map)

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

Members of the genus Gaura

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 57 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

G. angustifolia (Morning Honeysuckle) · G. biennis (Biennial Beeblossom) · G. boquillensis (Rio Grande Beeblossom) · G. brachycarpa (Plains Beeblossom) · G. calcicola (Texas Beeblossom) · G. coccinea (Scarlet Beeblossom) · G. coccinea var. integerrima (Wild Honeysuckle) · G. demareei (Demaree's Beeblossom) · G. drummondii (Drummond's Beeblossom) · G. filipes (Slender-Stalked Gaura) · G. hexandra (Harlequin Bush) · G. hexandra gracilis (Harlequin Bush) · G. hexandra hexandra (Harlequin-Bush) · G. hexandra subsp. gracilis (Harlequin Bush) · G. lindheimeri (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Ballerina Blush' (Apple Blossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Blushing Butterflies' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Cherry Brandy' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Corrie's Gold' (Corrie's Gold Variegated Wandflower) · G. lindheimeri 'Crimson Butterflies' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Dauphine' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'My Melody' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Passionate Pink' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Passionate Rainbow' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Perky Pink' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Pink Cloud' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri'Pink Fountains' (Pink Fountains Wand Flower) · G. lindheimeri 'Pink Fountain' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Pink Lady' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink' (Siskiyou Pink Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'So White' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Stratosphere Pink Picotee' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Stratosphere White' (Stratosphere White Butterfly Flower) · G. lindheimeri 'Sunny Butterflies' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'Walgaupf' (Pink Fountains Gaura) · G. lindheimeri 'Walgauws' (White Fountains Gaura) · G. lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. lindheimeri 'White Fountain' (Appleblossom Grass) · G. longiflora (Beeblossom) · G. ludoviciana (Louisiana Beeblossom) · G. macrocarpa (Trans-Pecos Butterfly-Weed) · G. mckelveyae (Mckelvey's Beeblossom) · G. mollis (Smallflowered Gaura) · G. neomexicana (New Mexico Beeblossom) · G. neomexicana coloradensis (Colorado Butterfly Plant) · G. neomexicana neomexicana (New Mexico Beeblossom) · G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis (Colorado Beeblossom) · G. sinuata (Wavy-Leaf Butterfly-Weed) · G. suffulta nealleyi (Bee Blossom) · G. suffulta suffulta (Kisses) · G. suffulta subsp. nealleyi (Nealley's Kisses) · G. triangulata (Prairie Beeblossom) · G. villosa parksii (Woolly Beeblossom) · G. villosa villosa (Woolly Beeblossom) · G. villosa subsp. parksii (Parks' Beeblossom) · G. 'Karalee Petite Pink' (Gaura Hybrid) · G. 'Karalee White' (Gaura Hybrid)

More Info

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Further Reading

• A flora of California, by Willis Linn Jepson. San Francisco, Calif., Cunningham, Curtis & Welch, 1909- url p. 608.
• A general history of the dichlamydeous plants, comprising complete descriptions of the different orders; together with the characters of the genera and species, and an enumeration of the cultivated varieties. .. the scientific names accentuated, t By George Don. London, J.G. and F. Rivington [etc.]1831-38. url p. 683.
• An illustrated flora of the Pacific States: Washington, Oregon, and California. Stanford University, Stanford University Press, 1923-[60] url p. 211.
• An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British possessions: from Newfoundland to the parallel of the southern boundary of Virginia and from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the 102nd meridian / by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Hon. Addison Brown. New York: Scribner, 1913. url , p. 609.
• Annotated list of the ferns and flowering plants of New York state, by Homer D. House. Albany, The University of the state of New York, 1924. url p. 523.
• Bibliographical index to North American botany; or, Citations of authorities for all the recorded indigenous and naturalized species of the flora of North America, with a chronological arrangement of the synonymy. by Sereno Watson. Washington, Smithsonian Institution, 1878. url p. 369.
• Boston journal of natural history. 5 1845 - 18 Boston, Boston Society of Natural History. url p. 217, p. 240, p. 548.
• Botanic contributions relating to the flora of western North America [by] Gray, Engelmann, Torrey [and] Fre?mont. v.p., 1843-53 url p. 190, p. 217, p. 240.
• Botanical explorations in southern Texas during the season of 1894. [Lancaster, Pa.]The New Era Printing House, 1895. url p. 71.
• Britton, N. L. (ed.). North American flora. 7 1912 [New York]New York Botanical Garden. url p. 263, p. 365, p. 832, p. 899.
• Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. Los Angeles, Calif.: The Academy, 1902-1971. url p. 22.
• Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 1904 31 New York: Torrey Botanical Club, 1870-1996 url p. 572.
• Contributions from the Herbarium of Columbia College. New York: Columbia College, 1886-1896. url p. 9.
• Contributions from the New York Botanical Garden. New York: The Garden, 1899- url .
• Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 1 1890-1895 Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- url p. 192, p. 206, p. 38.
• Flora of the southeastern United States; being descriptions of the seed-plants, ferns and fern-allies growing naturally in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and in Oklahom by John Kunkel Small. New York, The author, 1913. url p. 848, p. 848.
• Flora of the vicinity of New York; a contribution to plant geography. [New York]1915 url p. 468.
• Leaflets of western botany. San Fransisco:[J. T. Howell], 1932-1966. url p. 85.
• List of Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta growing without cultivation in northeastern North America. Prepared by a Committee of the Botanical Club, American Association for the Advancement of Science. New York, 1894. url p. 236.
• Manual of the flora of the northern states and Canada / by Nathaniel Lord Britton. New York: Holt, 1905. url p. 663.
• Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club. 5 1893 - 18 Durham, N.C.: Published for the Club by the Seeman Printery, 1889- url p. 236.
• National list of scientific plant names. [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 1982- url p. 182.
• Occasional papers - San Diego Society of Natural History. 1949 San Diego, The Society. url p. 99, p. 99.
• On the crustacea and echinodermata of the Pacific shores of North America. Boston, Boston Society of Natural History, 1857 url p. 548.
• Phytologia. Bronx Park, New York, H.A. Gleason and H.N. Moldenke, url p. 145.
• Plantae Lindheimerianae: an enumeration of F. Lindheimer's collection of Texan plants, with remarks and descriptions of new species, etc. / by George Engelmann and Asa Gray. Boston: Printed by Freeman and Bolles, 1845-[1907] url p. 169, p. 190, p. 32, p. 9.
• Preliminary catalog of Anthophyta and Pteridophyta, reported as growing spontaneously within one hundred miles of New York City. New York, 1888. url p. 80.
• Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia url p. 19, p. 19.
• Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 8 1885 Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.] url p. 491.
• Psyche. Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge Entomological Club url p. 105.
• Small, J. K. Flora of the southeastern United States;being descriptions of the seed-plants, ferns and fern-allies growing naturally in North Carolina, South Carolin, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and the Indian territory and in Oklahoma and Texas east of the one-hundredth meridian /by John Kunkel Small. .. 1903 New York: The author, 1903. url p. 847.
• Smithsonian contributions to knowledge. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1848-1916. url p. 59, p. 72.
• Smithsonian miscellaneous collections. 15 1878 Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1862-1968. url p. 369.
• Torrey, J. & A. Gray A flora of North America: containing abridged descriptions of all the known indigenous and naturalized plants growing north of Mexico, arranged according to the natural system /by John Torrey and Asa Gray. New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1838-[1843]. url p. 518.
• Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. Topeka, Kan.: W.Y. Morgan, 1903- url p. 198.
• Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York: New York Academy of Sciences. url p. 9.
• Transactions of the. .. annual meetings of the Kansas Academy of Science. Topeka, Kan.: Kansas Pub. House, 1883-1901. url p. 109, p. 98.
• Chen Chiajui, Lu Shangzhi & Li Yibin. 2000. Onagraceae. In: Chen Chiajui, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 53(2): 27-133.
• Chen Chiajui, Lu Shangzhi & Li Yibin. 2000. Onagraceae. In: Chen Chiajui, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 53(2): 27-133.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 11, 2012.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 20, 2007:

• Berkeley Natural History Museums, University and Jepson Herbaria DiGIR provider
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
• Utah State University, USU-UTC Specimen Database

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2651538
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-27661
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13743347
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:612767-1
• GRIN Nomen Number: 316695
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 27661
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 612766-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDONA080H0
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: GASI
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 40442

Footnotes

1. Jiarui Chen, Peter C. Hoch, Peter H. Raven, David E. Boufford & Warren L. Wagner "Onagraceae". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 274, 290, 400. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. Jiarui Chen, Peter C. Hoch & Warren L. Wagner "Gaura". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 400, 427. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
3. Mean = 254.000 meters (833.333 feet), Standard Deviation = 304.690 based on 122 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.