Vespertine (biology)
Encyclopedia
Vespertine is a term used in the life sciences
to indicate something of, relating to, or occurring in the evening. In botany
, a vespertine flower
is one that opens or blooms in the evening. In zoology
, the term is used for a creature that becomes active in the evening, such as bats and owls. Vespertine animals are frequently described as nocturnal, although this usage is not strictly correct.
The term vespertine is derived from the Latin word vesper, meaning evening. A synonym for vespertine used in both botany and zoology is crepuscular. However, crepuscular
refers to both early morning and early evening.
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
to indicate something of, relating to, or occurring in the evening. In botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, a vespertine flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
is one that opens or blooms in the evening. In zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, the term is used for a creature that becomes active in the evening, such as bats and owls. Vespertine animals are frequently described as nocturnal, although this usage is not strictly correct.
The term vespertine is derived from the Latin word vesper, meaning evening. A synonym for vespertine used in both botany and zoology is crepuscular. However, crepuscular
Crepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
refers to both early morning and early evening.
List of common vespertine flowers
- Four O'Clock (Mirabilis jalapaMirabilis jalapaMirabilis jalapa is the most commonly grown ornamental species of Mirabilis, and is available in a range of colours. Mirabilis in Latin means wonderful and Jalapa is a town in Mexico...
) - Night-blooming Cestrum (Cestrum nocturnumCestrum nocturnumCestrum nocturnum is a species of Cestrum, native to the West Indies. Common names include Night-blooming Cestrum, Lady of the Night, Queen of the Night, Night-blooming jessamine, and Night-blooming Jasmine. Hasnuhana is another popular name for the plant in Bengali...
) - Angel's trumpet (BrugmansiaBrugmansiaBrugmansia is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to subtropical regions of South America, along the Andes from Colombia to northern Chile, and also in southeastern Brazil. They are known as Angel's Trumpets, sharing that name with the closely related genus...
) - SoapwortSoapwortCommon Soapwort is a vespertine flower, and a common perennial plant from the carnation family . Other common names are Bouncing Bet and Sweet William; locally it is simply "the Soapwort" although there are about 20 species of soapworts altogether.The scientific name Saponaria is derived from the...
(Saponaria officinalis) - Nicotiana or Woodland Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris)
- Nicotiana or Jasmine Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
- Ten-week stock
- Night-scented stock (Matthiola bicornis)
- Single white petunias
- Devil's trumpet (DaturaDaturaDatura is a genus of nine species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. Its precise and natural distribution is uncertain, owing to its extensive cultivation and naturalization throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe...
) - Calypso (Hemerocallis)
- EchinopsisEchinopsisEchinopsis is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cacti, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, E. chamaecereus, is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from large and treelike types to small globose cacti...
sp. - Hemerocallis citrina
- Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
- Silene or catchflies (Silene nutans)
- Silene or catchflies (Silene noctifloraSilene noctifloraSilene noctiflora is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name night-flowering catchfly. It is native to Eurasia, but it is known on other continents as an introduced species and sometimes a weed. In North America, it is a common weed of grain crops in the Canadian...
) - Silene or catchflies (Silene vespertina)
- Vesper campion (Lychnis vespertina)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera acaulis)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera biennisOenothera biennisOenothera biennis is a species of Oenothera native to eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland west to Alberta, southeast to Florida, and southwest to Texas, and widely naturalized elsewhere in temperate and subtropical regions.-Growth and flowering:Oenorthera biennis has a life span...
) - Evening primrose (Oenothera californica)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera brachycarpa)
- Gladiolus tristis
- Nycterinia selaginoides
- Schizopetalon walkeri