Oenothera biennis

Common evening primrose
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Onagraceae
Genus:	Oenothera
Species:	O. biennis
Binomial name
Oenothera biennis L.
Synonyms[1]
Brunyera biennis Bubani Oenothera chicaginensis de Vries ex Renner & Cleland Oenothera chicagoensis Renner ex R.E.Cleland & Blakeslee Oenothera grandiflora L'Hér. Oenothera muricata L. Oenothera pycnocarpa G.F. Atk. & Bartlett Oenothera renneri H.Scholz Oenothera rubricaulis Kleb. Oenothera stenopetala E.P. Bicknell Oenothera suaveolens Pers. Onagra biennis (L.) Scop. Onagra muricata (L.) Moench

Oenothera biennis (common evening-primrose,^[2] evening star, or sun drop) 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.^[3] Evening primrose oil is produced from the plant.^[4][5]

Growth and flowering

Open flower in the evening.

Closed flowers

Illustration Oenothera biennis

Oenothera biennis has a life span of two years (biennial) growing to 30–150 cm (12–59 in) tall. The leaves are lanceolate, 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) long and 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in) broad, produced in a tight rosette the first year, and spirally on a stem the second year.

Blooming lasts from late spring to late summer. The flowers are hermaphrodite, produced on a tall spike and only last until the following noon. They open visibly fast every evening producing an interesting spectacle, hence the name "evening primrose."

The blooms are yellow, 2.5–5 cm (0.98–1.97 in) diameter, with four bilobed petals. The flower structure has an invisible to the naked eye bright nectar guide pattern. This pattern is apparent under ultraviolet light and visible to its pollinators, moths, butterflies, and bees.

The fruit is a capsule 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) broad, containing numerous 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long seeds, released when the capsule splits into four sections at maturity.^[6][7][8][9]

English names

It is also known as weedy evening-primrose, German rampion, hog weed, King's cure-all, and fever-plant.^[10]

Ecology

The seeds of the plant are important food for birds.^[11]

Uses

The mature seeds contain approximately 7–10% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid. Evening primrose oil (EPO), containing GLA, is often used to treat some medical conditions,^[12] and is considered a dietary supplement rather than a drug.

The plant's leaves are edible and traditionally were used as a leaf vegetable.^[13] The roots are also edible.^[11]

Medicinal uses

Evening primrose is considered to have beneficial health effects, largely due to its GLA content. Evening primrose is sometimes used to treat eczema. The Mayo clinic examined evidence for the safety and effectiveness of evening primrose for several conditions; it was considered that there was good evidence (grade B, vs "strong evidence", grade A) that it produced a moderate improvement in eczema.^[12] Grade C, unclear, evidence for benefit is listed for many conditions, including some reduction of blood pressure. Research has shown a lack of significant beneficial effects on heart function and health. Many conditions for which evening primrose is a traditional remedy or there is a theory suggesting efficacy are listed by the Mayo clinic, without comment.^[12]

The symptoms of eczema can be exacerbated due to scratching and drying out the skin. Supplementation with EPO may help rehydrate skin that has been scratched due to eczema.

There are conflicting opinions and evidence for the medicinal effects of GLA, the active constituent of EPO, which has been promoted to treat ailments including breast pain and eczema; such marketing was described by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) as ethically dubious—the substance was likely to be remembered as "a remedy for which there is no disease".^[14] The BMJ said in 2003 that it was of no use in atopic dermatitis.^[15] The American Cancer Society said in 2010 that there was very little evidence for its effectiveness as an anti-cancer agent, for which it is sometimes promoted, and "neither GLA nor other GLA-rich supplements (such as evening primrose oil) have been convincingly shown to be useful in preventing or treating any other health conditions."^[16]

Adverse effects

EPO is considered likely to be safe in recommended doses.^[17] It may increase the risk of bleeding, a concern for patients with bleeding disorders or taking drugs that may increase bleeding. The Mayo clinic recommends caution in people with seizure disorders or mania, and by pregnant or breastfeeding women, and publishes a long list of possible side-effects.

Most studies evaluating the effectiveness of EPO used a dose of 1600 mg of standardized extract (4 capsules) by mouth twice daily for up to 12 weeks.

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  rosette

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  flowers and fruit capsules

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  Primrose moth (Schinia florida) in flower

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  Habitat, dry and sunny

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oenothera biennis.

Wikispecies has information related to: Oenothera biennis

External links

• Profile: Yellow Evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis) Photos, Drawings, Text. (Wild Plants of Winnipeg from Nature Manitoba)