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.
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).
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.
