Oenothera biennis L.

Common Evening Primrose; King's Cureall

Herb

Biennial

Vascular

Common Evening Primrose is a native herbaceous biennial in the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Common Evening Primrose occurs in old fields, along roadsides and utility lines, along the margins of woodlands, in clear-cuts, and in other disturbed habitats. It is a biennial from a tap root. During the first year of growth the plant forms a basal rosette of large, lanceolate to elliptic leaves. During the second year of growth the plant elongates and flowers. The stems are erect, to 1.5 m in height, pubescent, and branched. Leaves are alternate, petiolate (upper leaves reduced and sessile), elliptic to lanceolate in outline, pubescent, with serrate to remotely toothed or undulating margins. Flowers are produced in a terminal spike-like inflorescence. The ovary is inferior and the hypanthium (fused sepals, petals, and stamens) in elongate. Each flower has 4 green sepal lobes, 4 lemon yellow petals, and 8 stamens. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule with numerous small seeds. Flower open at night and usually wither before mid-day. The flowers are pollinated by Sphinx moths. Common Evening Primrose has been used medicinally as a traditional remedy for certain skin conditions such as eczema. It is the source for Evening primrose oil.—A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL)

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