An evening primrose from Ken in SC

This is growing in a field that has been mowed for hay for several years. It is now part of a new park and starting this year will no longer be mowed, but rather maintained as a meadow. We are 16 miles from the coast, and the plants is less than thirty yards from a tidal ditch.
It appears to be a primrose (Hairy Primrose), but is different than any photos I have found. The leaves are deeply cut, the sepals bend downward abruptly and appear to be tube shaped at the end. Very hairy!

Ken,

your plant appears to be Oenothera laciniata.  I sent a copy of the image to Dr. Peter Raven, an expert on the Onagraceae, and he agrees that it is probably that species.  I am not yet 100 % sure because of those appendages at the end of the sepals, so I am also asking a few other botanists about it.  Dr. Raven said that it is extremely variable, however, and he knows these plants a lot better than I do!  If I get a different opinion, I’ll let you know by updating this message.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steven R. Hill, Botanist, SCNPS.

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