The Birding Trips of Bob Barnes

Fendler’s Sundrops - Oenothera hartwegii fendlerii 
Ready Pay Gulch
East of Hillsboro, NM, USA
June 2016
Photograph immediately above and below

One of the most common flowers seen on walks in the foothills of the eastern Black Range, at this time of year, is the Fendler’s Sundrops, Oenothera hartwegii fendleri.  The plant shown here was photographed in Ready Pay Gulch, east of Hillsboro.

This species was first described by George Bentham in 1839, the subspecies was first described by Asa Gray in 1853, as Oenothera fendleri.  Other synonyms for the subspecies are: Calylophus hartwegii subsp. fendleri (A. Gray) Towner & P.H. Raven; Galpinsia fendleri (A. Gray) A. Heller; Galpinsia hartwegii var. fendleri (A. Gray) Small; and Oenothera hartwegii subsp. fendleri (A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch. 

The specimen shown below was collected by Dr. Edward Palmer in 1869.  Palmer (1830 - 1911) was a botanist, naturalist,  explorer, archaeologist, ethnobotanist, and plant collector.  A wide range of interests and an era when specialization was not the norm led to success in a variety of fields.  The extent of that success can be seen in the fact that more than 200 plant species have been named in his honor.

In the southwestern United States this species is common and widespread (see the range distribution map for the United States, from BONAP - above right).  The light green color means the species is native and “not rare” in the county indicated.