Oenothera albicaulis facts for kids

The Oenothera albicaulis plant

The Oenothera albicaulis is a special plant from the New World. It belongs to the evening primrose family. People often call it by several names like prairie evening-primrose or white-stem evening-primrose. It's also known as whitish evening primrose or whitest evening primrose.

What is the White-Stem Evening-Primrose?

The Oenothera albicaulis is a type of flowering plant. It is part of a large family called the evening primrose family. These plants often have beautiful flowers that open in the evening. The "albicaulis" part of its name means "white stem." This tells us a bit about how the plant looks.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

This interesting plant is native to North America. You can find it growing in many parts of the United States. This includes states like Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. It also grows south of the border in Mexico, specifically in the state of Chihuahua.

How People Use This Plant

Native American tribes have used plants for many purposes for a long time. The Zuni people, who live in New Mexico, have a special use for the Oenothera albicaulis. They carefully chew the plant's blossoms. Then, they gently rub these chewed blossoms on the bodies of young girls. This is done to help the girls dance well. It is also believed to help bring rain, which is very important for their crops and land.