Paintbrush

Flowers With Four Petals

This group of flowers has four petals. Some gentians have four petals and others five, so this group will be found in two places. One flower included here has no petals but it has 4 tepals that look like petals.

The common name, genus and species, and family are given for each plant.

Brassicaceae

Mustard Family

  • This family has four sepals, four petals and 6 stamens.
  • Western Wallflower can be yellow, orange or maroon. It is a very common plant.
  • Brookcress is found along mountain streams and springs in montane and subalpine zones.
Wallflower Brookcress

Western Wallflower

Erysimum capitatum

Brassicaceae

Brookcress or Bittercress

Cardamine cordifolia

Brassicaceae

Onagraceae

Evening-Primrose Family

  • The stigma of Evening-Primrose has four branches that form a cross in the center of the flower. The flowers fade in the morning and new ones open in the evening as they are pollinated by night-flying moths. White flowers fade to pink and yellow flowers to orange.
  • Common Evening-Primrose can grow to 4 feet. It has 4 bright yellow petals. It is found along roadsides and in open disturbed areas.
  • Cutleaf Evening-Primrose is a small flower with sharply dissected leaves.
  • Stemless Evening-Primrose has short stems. It is found on sunny hillsides, roadcuts and dry prairies.
  • Fireweed often grows in areas that have been burned, giving it its name. It is common throughout the West.
EveningPrimroseComB EvenPrimroseCutleaf

Cutleaf Evening-Primrose

Oenothera coronopifolia

Onagraceae

Common Evening-Primrose

Oenothera villosa

Onagraceae

EvenPrimroseStemless Fireweed

Stemless Evening-Prilmrose

Oenothera caespitosa

Onagraceae

Fireweed

Chamerion danielsii (Ephilobium augustifolia)

Onagraceae

LeatheFlower

Leather Flower or Sugarbowl

Coriflora scotti

Ranunculaceae

GentianWind

Windmill or Fringed Gentain

Gentianopsis barbellata

Gentianaceae

Ranunculaceae

Buttercup Family

  • In the Buttercup Family, all flower parts are distinct and separate. Stamens are numerous.
  • Leather Flower has tepals of leathery texture.

Gentianaceae

Gentian Family

  • Gentians have united corollas (petals), at least at the bottom. There may be 4 or 5 corolla lobes. Only those with 4 lobes are covered here.
  • Windmill Gentian has a 4 lobed corolla with fringed margins. It is found at the edges of coniferous forests or open slopes in the subalpine zone.
  • Green Gentian is a tall stout plant that grows from a basal rosette of large smooth leaves. It is found on montane or subalpine hillsides and at the edges of meadows.
GreenGentianC GreenGentianD

Green Gentian or Monument Plant

(close up)

Frasera speciosa

Gentianaceae

Green Gentian or Monument Plant

(at a distance)

Frasera speciosa

Gentianaceae

RockyMtBeeplant

Capparaceae

Caper Family

  • The Caper Family is similar to the mustard family.
  • Rocky Mountain Bee Plant has stamens much longer than the petals. The flowers secrete a lot of nectar and are very sticky. They are found along roads and on overgrazed land in foothills and lower montane areas.

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant

Cleome serrulata

Capparaceae

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