Gaura was a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America. The name was derived from Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: γαῦρος (gaûros) meaning "superb" and named in reference to the stature and floral display of some species in this genus.[1] The genus included many species known commonly as beeblossoms. Genetic research showed that the genus was paraphyletic unless the monotypic genus Stenosiphon is included within Gaura, increasing the number of species in the genus to 22.[2] [3] [4] Gaura is now a synonym of Oenothera, with the bulk of the Gaura taxa in genus Oenothera sect. Gaura .
Gauras are annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous plants; most are perennials with sturdy rhizomes, often forming dense thickets, crowding or shading out other plant species. They have a basal rosette of leaves, with erect or spreading flowering stems up to 2 m (rarely more) tall, leafy on the lower stem, branched and leafless on the upper stem. The flowers have four (rarely three) petals; they are zygomorphic, with all the petals directed somewhat upwards. The fruit is an indehiscent nut-like body containing reddish-brown seeds. It reproduces via seeds and also by rhizome growth.[2]
Several species of the former Gaura are regarded as noxious weeds, especially in disturbed or overgrazed areas where it easily takes hold. They can become a nuisance in situations involving disturbed habitat, such as trampled rangeland and clearings. Efforts to control Gaura focus mainly on prevention of misuse of land. There is no biological control method for plants of genus Gaura, and removing existing infestations is difficult, due in large part to the plants' ability to reproduce from bits of rhizome left in the ground.[5]
Despite the poor reputation of these plants, some species are cultivated as garden plants, such as G. lindheimeri (white gaura).
In 2007, Warren L. Wagner, Peter C. Hoch, and Peter H. Raven published a Revised Classification of the Onagraceae,[6] which moved the bulk of the Gaura taxa into genus Oenothera sect. Gaura and made Gaura a synonym of Oenothera.[7] The following table shows where the Gaura taxa have been placed.[8] [9]
| Synonym | Accepted Name | Common Name[10] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaura | Oenothera | beeblossom | |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Gauridium | |||
| Gaura mutabilis | anomalous Oenothera | ||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Stenosiphon | |||
| Stenosiphon virgatus | false gaura | ||
| Stenosiphon linifolius | |||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Schizocarya | |||
| Gaura mollis | velvetweed, smallflowered gaura, velvety gaura, willow gaura | ||
| Gaura parviflora | |||
| G. parviflora var. lachnocarpa | |||
| G. parviflora var. parviflora | |||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Xerogaura | |||
| Gaura macrocarpa | Trans-Pecos beeblossom | ||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Campogaura | |||
| Gaura boquillensis | Rio Grande beeblossom | ||
| Gaura coccinea | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura | ||
| G. coccinea var. arizonica | |||
| G. coccinea var. epilobioides | |||
| G. coccinea var. glabra | |||
| G. coccinea var. parvifolia | |||
| G. coccinea var. coccinea | |||
| Gaura glabra | |||
| Gaura odorata | |||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Stipogaura | |||
| Gaura calcicola | Texas beeblossom | ||
| Gaura villosa | woolly beeblossom, woolly gaura | ||
| G. villosa ssp. villosa | O. cinerea ssp. cinerea | woolly beeblossom | |
| G. villosa var. villosa | |||
| G. villosa var. arenicola | |||
| G. villosa ssp. parksii | O. cinerea ssp. parksii | hairy gaura, Parks' beeblossom | |
| G. villosa var. parksii | |||
| G. villosa var. mckelveyae | Mckelvey's beeblossom | ||
| Gaura mckelveyae | |||
| Gaura filipes | slenderstalk beeblossom | ||
| G. filipes var. major | |||
| Gaura michauxii | |||
| Gaura sinuata | wavyleaf beeblossom, wavyleaf gaura | ||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Xenogaura | |||
| Gaura drummondii | Drummond's beeblossom, scented gaura | ||
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Gaura | |||
| Gaura neomexicana | O. coloradensis ssp. neomexicana | New Mexico beeblossom | |
| G. neomexicana ssp. neomexicana | |||
| G. neomexicana var. neomexicana | |||
| G. neomexicana ssp. coloradensis | O. coloradensis ssp. coloradensis | Colorado beeblossom, Colorado butterfly plant | |
| G. neomexicana var. coloradensis | |||
| Gaura demareei | Demaree's beeblossom | ||
| Gaura biennis | biennial beeblossom | ||
| G. biennis var. pitcheri | longflower beeblossom | ||
| Gaura pitcheri | |||
| Gaura filiformis | |||
| Gaura longiflora | |||
| Gaura tripetala | O. hexandra ssp. hexandra | harlequin bush, slender gaura | |
| Gaura hexandra | |||
| G. hexandra var. hexandra | |||
| G. hexandra ssp. hexandra | |||
| G. hexandra ssp. gracilis | O. hexandra ssp. gracilis | harlequin bush | |
| Gaura gracilis | |||
| G. hexandra var. coryi | O. patriciae | plains beeblossom | |
| G. tripetala var. coryi | |||
| Gaura brachycarpa | |||
| G. hexandra var. triangulata | prairie beeblossom, three-petal gaura | ||
| Gaura triangulata | |||
| G. tripetala var. triangulata | |||
| Gaura angustifolia | southern beeblossom | ||
| Gaura eatonii | |||
| Gaura simulans | |||
| Gaura suffulta | kisses, roadside gaura | ||
| G. suffulta ssp. suffulta | |||
| G. suffulta ssp. nealleyi | O. suffulta ssp. nealleyi | Nealley's kisses | |
| Gaura nealleyi | |||
| Gaura lindheimeri | Lindheimer's beeblossom, white gaura | ||
| Clarkia sect. Phaeostoma subsect. Heterogaura | |||
| Gaura heterandra | mountain clarkia | ||
| Eremothera | |||
| Gaura decorticans | E. boothii ssp. decorticans | Shredding suncup | |