Herbs annual, caulescent, strig­illose or glabrous, also often glandular puberulent, especially distally; from a sparsely branched taproot. Stems un­branched or with many ascending branches arising near base, erect, 10–50 cm. Leaves in a basal rosette and cauline, basal 1–2(–4) × 0.2–0.6 cm, petiole 0.2–1(–1.5) cm, blade ovate to obovate or narrowly elliptic; cauline 1–4 × less than 0.1 cm, sessile, blade linear or filiform. Flowers usually 1–3 opening per day near sunrise; buds without free tips; sepals 1.5–2 mm; petals bright yellow, fading pink, obcordate to obovate, 3–5(–7) mm; filaments 1–2 mm, anthers 0.5–1 mm; style 1–2 mm, stigma surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules ellipsoid-rhombic to subglobose, 4-angled, 4–6(–10) × 1.5–3 mm, stipe 0–4 mm, valve midrib raised at distal end, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent distally; sessile. Seeds clustered in each locule, ovoid, surface minutely papillose, 1 × 0.5 mm. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun(–Aug).
Habitat: Prairies, open woodlands, open rocky and sandy sites, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–400 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Kans., Ky., La., Miss., Mo., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex.

Discussion

Kneiffia linearifolia Spach (1835) is an illegitimate name based on Oenothera linifolia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.