Question

Moonflower   QUESTION: Tom - I too like Denise am trying to find out about the mysterious night blooming flower.  Attached is a picture, and I bet it is the one Denise is referring to!!!!  Any suggestions as to what it's proper name is?

ANSWER: Hi Chris,
Thanx for your question.  It's not a dandelion.  It's Oenothera elata sometimes refered to as Hooker's Evening Primrose.  Very common in the Westerb half of the U.S. as a wild flower and sometimes cultivated in home gardens.  I hope this helps.
Tom

Take a look at this link.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Hooker%27s+evening+primrose&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tom - The foliage on my plants looks nothing like the primrose variations.  I do have primroses that bloom during the day and they have no resemblance when it comes to the leaves.  Mine is a short plant and the primroses seem to be on tall stalks.  It's a mystery plant!!!!

Answer
Hi Chris,
Thanx for the followup.  The are many primrose variations.  If you look at the flower though, that's where the give away is.  There are yellow primroses that have those long, thin leaves but look at the flower with it's four wide, yellow bracts.  That is very typical of a primrose.  You can take a sample of it in to your local County Extension Office for verification.  I'll bet it is a wildflower species of primrose.  May not be real common in your area.  If you need contact information, give me you county and state and I can send contact info.

I hope this helps.
Tom