XCalylophus lavandulifolius - Lavendar-leaf sundropsX
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Lavender-leaf sundrops -or- Lavender-leaf primrose -or- Puckered Sundrops (Calylophus lavandulifolius), family Onagraceae (Willowherb)
These bright yellow flowers were amoung the most showy, as well as numerous, of the flowers that we encountered on our hike on Pawnee Butte Trail# 840. The following is a quote from SW Colorado Wildflowers.com: 'This member of the Evening Primrose Family is a very close look-alike to some Oenotheras but the latter bloom in the evening and begin withering early in the morning whereas Calylophus lavandulifolia blooms during the day. The long trumpet-like flowers (see left center of the photograph) dry to shades of pink-orange-rust. Leaves are short and narrow with smooth edges. "Caly" is Greek for "calyx" and "lophus" is Greek for "a crest", both referring to a small projection from the sepals. "Lavandulifolia" refers to the lavender-like leaves. The first specimen of this plant was collected for science by Edwin James near the Platte in Colorado in 1820 and the plant was named Oenothera lavandulaefolia by Torrey and Gray in 1840; it was renamed Calylophus lavandulifolia by Peter Raven in 1964.' End quote. Now you might agree with us, the BUDS of these flowers are very attractive all by themselves. With reddish/pinkish striped areas on the unopened buds, the plant was putting on a show before even blooming.
Flower -
Plant location: Found on a hike in the Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte, Trail #840 on May 26, 2008. This was an excellent hike
for sighting wildflowers!! We identified no less than TWENTY-FIVE new species of wildflowers on this hike. Having just moved to Colorado, this was a wonderful introduction to the Plains wildflowers of Colorado. We highly recommend this specific hike.Plant -
Bloom period: Mid Spring through Summer. These really made a nice show. They could be found perching in the most unfriendly looking places, dressing up the views nicely as in our plant slide. Note the narrow non-toothed foliage in this frame, an identifying charactaristic of this species.Foliage -
Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte hike, Trail #840 - May 26, 2008
Buds starting to open show the beauty this species offers in addition to it's cheery yellow blooms. -
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - May 31, 2015
Plant view. Browns Park was a marvelous area for wildflower viewing. We enjoyed the remote location for it's dead quiet, esepcially at night. -
Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte hike, Trail #840 - May 26, 2008
Flower with insect visitors -
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - May 31, 2015
Foliage and unopened bud view, looking much as they did at Pawnee Butte in 2008. -
Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte hike, Trail #840 - May 26, 2008
Foliage and unopened bud view -
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - May 31, 2015
Stamens (specifically filaments and anthers) view. All 8 (octandrous or octostemonous) are showing in this shot, and are clearly more aged than the flower detail from 2008. -
Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte hike, Trail #840 - May 26, 2008
Another plant view - from straight down. -
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Pawnee National Grasslands - Pawnee Butte hike, Trail #840 - May 26, 2008
Flower detail: Stamens, anthers and filaments. Only 7 are visable, with 8 the usual conformation. -