# Gaura

Gaura was a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America. The name was derived from Greek γαῦρος (gaûros) meaning "superb" and named in reference to the stature and floral display of some species in this genus. 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. Gaura is now a synonym of Oenothera, with the bulk of the Gaura taxa in genus Oenothera sect. Gaura (L.) W.L.Wagner &Hoch.
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.

## Species formerly in Gaura

* Gaura angustifolia
* Gaura biennis
* Gaura boquillensis
* Gaura brachycarpa
* Gaura calcicola
* Gaura coccinea
* Gaura demareei
* Gaura drummondii
* Gaura filipes
* Gaura hexandra
* Gaura lindheimeri
* Gaura linifolia (syn. Stenosiphon linifolius)
* Gaura longiflora
* Gaura macrocarpa
* Gaura mckelveyae
* Gaura mutabilis
* Gaura neomexicana
* Gaura parviflora (syn. G. mollis)
* Gaura sinuata
* Gaura suffulta
* Gaura triangulata
* Gaura villosa
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.
Despite the poor reputation of these plants, some species are cultivated as garden plants, such as G. lindheimeri (white gaura).

## Synonymy

In 2007, Warren L. Wagner, Peter C. Hoch, and Peter H. Raven published a Revised Classification of the Onagraceae, which moved the bulk of the Gaura taxa into genus Oenothera sect. Gaura (L.) W.L.Wagner &Hoch and made Gaura a synonym of Oenothera. The following table shows where the Gaura taxa have been placed.
| Synonym | Accepted Name | Common Name |
| Gaura L. 1753 | Oenothera L. 1753 | beeblossom |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Gauridium |||
| Gaura mutabilis Cav. 1795 | O. anomala Curtis 1797 | anomalous Oenothera |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Stenosiphon |||
| Stenosiphon virgatus Spach 1835 | O. glaucifolia W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | false gaura |
| Stenosiphon linifolius (Nutt. ex E.James) Heynh. 1840 | O. glaucifolia W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | false gaura |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Schizocarya |||
| Gaura mollis Kunth 1823 | O. curtiflora W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | velvetweed, smallflowered gaura, velvety gaura, willow gaura |
| Gaura parviflora Douglas ex Lehm. 1830 | O. curtiflora W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | velvetweed, smallflowered gaura, velvety gaura, willow gaura |
| G. parviflora var. lachnocarpa Weath. 1925 | O. curtiflora W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | velvetweed, smallflowered gaura, velvety gaura, willow gaura |
| G. parviflora var. parviflora | O. curtiflora W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | velvetweed, smallflowered gaura, velvety gaura, willow gaura |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Xerogaura |||
| Gaura macrocarpa Rothr. 1866 | O. arida W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Trans-Pecos beeblossom |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Campogaura |||
| Gaura boquillensis P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. boquillensis (P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Rio Grande beeblossom |
| Gaura coccinea Pursh 1814 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| G. coccinea var. arizonica Munz 1938 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| G. coccinea var. epilobioides (Kunth) Munz 1938 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| G. coccinea var. glabra (Lehm.) Munz 1938 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| G. coccinea var. parvifolia (Torr.) Rickett 1934 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| G. coccinea var. coccinea | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| Gaura glabra Lehm. 1830 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| Gaura odorata Sessé ex Lag. 1816 | O. suffrutescens (Ser.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | scarlet beeblossom, scarlet gaura |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Stipogaura |||
| Gaura calcicola P.H. Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. calcicola (P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Texas beeblossom |
| Gaura villosa Torr. | O. cinerea (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | woolly beeblossom, woolly gaura |
| G. villosa ssp. villosa Torr. 1827 | O. cinerea ssp. cinerea (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | woolly beeblossom |
| G. villosa var. villosa | O. cinerea ssp. cinerea (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | woolly beeblossom |
| G. villosa var. arenicola Munz 1938 | O. cinerea ssp. cinerea (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | woolly beeblossom |
| G. villosa ssp. parksii (Munz) P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. cinerea ssp. parksii (Munz) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | hairy gaura, Parks' beeblossom |
| G. villosa var. parksii Munz 1938 | O. cinerea ssp. parksii (Munz) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | hairy gaura, Parks' beeblossom |
| G. villosa var. mckelveyae Munz 1938 | O. mckelveyae (Munz) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Mckelvey's beeblossom |
| Gaura mckelveyae (Munz) P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. mckelveyae (Munz) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Mckelvey's beeblossom |
| Gaura filipes Spach 1835 | O. filipes (Spach) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | slenderstalk beeblossom |
| G. filipes var. major Torr. & A. Gray 1840 | O. filipes (Spach) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | slenderstalk beeblossom |
| Gaura michauxii Spach 1835 | O. filipes (Spach) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | slenderstalk beeblossom |
| Gaura sinuata Nutt. ex Ser. 1828 | O. sinuosa W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | wavyleaf beeblossom, wavyleaf gaura |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Xenogaura |||
| Gaura drummondii (Spach) Torr. & A. Gray 1840 | O. xenogaura W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Drummond's beeblossom, scented gaura |
| Oenothera sect. Gaura subsect. Gaura |||
| Gaura neomexicana Wooton 1898 | O. coloradensis ssp. neomexicana (Wooton) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | New Mexico beeblossom |
| G. neomexicana ssp. neomexicana | O. coloradensis ssp. neomexicana (Wooton) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | New Mexico beeblossom |
| G. neomexicana var. neomexicana | O. coloradensis ssp. neomexicana (Wooton) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | New Mexico beeblossom |
| G. neomexicana ssp. coloradensis (Rydb.) P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. coloradensis ssp. coloradensis (Rydb.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Colorado beeblossom, Colorado butterfly plant |
| G. neomexicana var. coloradensis (Rydb.) Munz 1938 | O. coloradensis ssp. coloradensis (Rydb.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Colorado beeblossom, Colorado butterfly plant |
| Gaura demareei P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. demareei (P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Demaree's beeblossom |
| Gaura biennis L. 1743 | O. gaura W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | biennial beeblossom |
| G. biennis var. pitcheri Torr. & A. Gray 1840 | O. filiformis (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | longflower beeblossom |
| Gaura pitcheri (Torr. & A.Gray) Small 1903 | O. filiformis (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | longflower beeblossom |
| Gaura filiformis Small 1898 | O. filiformis (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | longflower beeblossom |
| Gaura longiflora Spach 1835 | O. filiformis (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | longflower beeblossom |
| Gaura tripetala Cav. 1797 | O. hexandra ssp. hexandra (Ortega) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush, slender gaura |
| Gaura hexandra Ortega 1797 | O. hexandra ssp. hexandra (Ortega) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush, slender gaura |
| G. hexandra var. hexandra | O. hexandra ssp. hexandra (Ortega) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush, slender gaura |
| G. hexandra ssp. hexandra | O. hexandra ssp. hexandra (Ortega) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush, slender gaura |
| G. hexandra ssp. gracilis (Wooton & Standl.) P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. hexandra ssp. gracilis (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush |
| Gaura gracilis Wooton & Standl. 1913 | O. hexandra ssp. gracilis (Wooton & Standl.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | harlequin bush |
| G. hexandra var. coryi (Munz) Munz 1965 | O. patriciae W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | plains beeblossom |
| G. tripetala var. coryi Munz 1938 | O. patriciae W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | plains beeblossom |
| Gaura brachycarpa Small 1903 | O. patriciae W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | plains beeblossom |
| G. hexandra var. triangulata (Buckley) Munz 1965 | O. triangulata (Buckley) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | prairie beeblossom, three-petal gaura |
| Gaura triangulata Buckley 1862 | O. triangulata (Buckley) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | prairie beeblossom, three-petal gaura |
| G. tripetala var. triangulata (Buckley) Munz 1938 | O. triangulata (Buckley) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | prairie beeblossom, three-petal gaura |
| Gaura angustifolia Michx. 1803 | O. simulans (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | southern beeblossom |
| Gaura eatonii Small 1913 | O. simulans (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | southern beeblossom |
| Gaura simulans Small 1905 | O. simulans (Small) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | southern beeblossom |
| Gaura suffulta Engelm. ex A. Gray 1850 | O. suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | kisses, roadside gaura |
| G. suffulta ssp. suffulta | O. suffulta (Engelm.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | kisses, roadside gaura |
| G. suffulta ssp. nealleyi (J.M. Coult.) P.H.Raven & D.P.Greg. 1972 | O. suffulta ssp. nealleyi (J.M. Coult.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Nealley's kisses |
| Gaura nealleyi J.M. Coult. 1890 | O. suffulta ssp. nealleyi (J.M. Coult.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Nealley's kisses |
| Gaura lindheimeri Engelm. & A.Gray 1845 | O. lindheimeri (Engelm. & A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Lindheimer's beeblossom, white gaura |
| Clarkia sect. Phaeostoma subsect. Heterogaura |||
| Gaura heterandra Torr. 1857 | C. heterandra (Torr.) F.H.Lewis & P.H.Raven 1992 | mountain clarkia |
| Eremothera |||
| Gaura decorticans Hook. & Arn. 1841 | E. boothii ssp. decorticans (Hook. & Arn.) W.L.Wagner & Hoch 2007 | Shredding suncup |