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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Oenothera''
| image = Floare galbena bgiu.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''[[Oenothera erythrosepala]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Onagraceae]]
| genus = '''''Oenothera'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 125, including:<br/>
''[[Oenothera acaulis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera albicaulis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera argillicola]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera biennis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera brachycarpa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera caespitosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera californica]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera coronopifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera coryi]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera deltoides]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera drummondii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera elata]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera erythrosepala]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera flava]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera fruticosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera glazioviana]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera hookeri]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera jamesii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera kunthiana]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera laciniata]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera longissima]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera macrocarpa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera missouriensis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera nuttallii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera pallida]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera perennis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera pilosella]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera primiveris]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera rhombipetala]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera rosea]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera speciosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera stubbei]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera taraxacoides]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera tetraptera]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera triloba]]''
}}
'''''Oenothera''''' is a genus of about 125 species of [[Annual plant|annual]], [[biennial]] and [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] flowering plants, native to [[the Americas|North and South America]]. It is the [[type genus]] of the family [[Onagraceae]]. Common names include '''evening primrose''', '''suncups''', and '''sundrops'''.
The species vary in size from small alpine plants 10 cm tall (e.g. ''O. acaulis'' from [[Chile]]), to vigorous lowland species growing to 3 m (e.g. ''O. stubbei'' from [[Mexico]]). The [[leaf|leaves]] form a basal rosette at ground level and spiral up to the flowering stems; the leaves are dentate or deeply lobed (pinnatifid). The [[flower]]s open in the evening, hence the name "evening primrose", and are yellow in most species but white, purple, pink or red in a few; there are four petals. One of the most distinctive features of the flower is the [[Stigma (flower)|stigma]] with four branches, forming an X shape.<ref>{{cite book | title=A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America | author=[[Roger Tory Peterson]] and Margaret McKenny | isbn=0-395-91172-9 | year=1968}}</ref> [[Pollination]] is by [[Lepidoptera]] (moths) and [[bee]]s; like many members of the [[Onagraceae]], however, the pollen grains are loosely held together by viscin threads (see photo below), meaning that only bees that are morphologically specialized to gather this pollen can effectively pollinate the flowers (it cannot be held effectively in a typical bee [[scopa (biology)|scopa]]). Furthermore, the flowers are open at a time when most bee species are inactive, so the bees which visit ''Oenothera'' are also compelled to be [[vespertine (biology)|vespertine]] temporal specialists. The [[seed]]s ripen from late summer to fall.
''Oenothera'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Schinia|Schinia felicitata]]'' and ''[[Schinia|Schinia florida]]'', both of which feed exclusively on the genus, the former exclusively on ''O. deltoides''.
In the wild, evening primroses acts as primary colonizers, springing up wherever a patch of bare, undisturbed ground may be found. This means that they tend to be found in poorer environments such as [[dune]]s, roadsides, railway embankments and wasteland. It often occurs as a casual, eventually being out-competed by other species.
{| align=left
|[[Image:Evening primrose - England - large.JPG|thumb|left|An evening primrose cultivated in England]]
|-
|[[Image:Primrose-brighter.jpg|thumb|left|An evening primrose blossom opening in Pennsylvania]]
|-
|[[Image:Oenothera pollen.jpg|thumb|left|Pollen of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' (scanning electron microscope image)]]
|}
The genus ''Oenothera'' may have originated in [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]]. During the [[Pleistocene]] era a succession of [[ice age]]s swept down across [[North America]], with intervening warm periods. This was repeated for four ice ages, with four separate waves of colonization, each hybridizing with the remnants of the previous waves. This generated a present-day population that is very rich in [[genetic diversity]], spread right across the North American continent.
It was originally assigned to the genus ''Onagra'', which gave the family Onagraceae its name. ''Onagra'' (meaning "(food of) [[onager]]") was first used in [[botany]] in 1587, and in English in [[Philip Miller]]'s 1754 ''Gardeners Dictionary: Abridged''. Its modern name ''Oenothera'' was published by [[Carolus Linnaeus]] in his ''[[Systema Naturae]]''. [[William Baird]] suggests that since ''oeno'' means "wine" in Greek it refers to the fact that the root of the edible ''Oenothera biennis'' was used as a wine flavor additive.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
[[Image:Oenothera speciosa0.jpg|right|thumb|An evening primrose flower, showing the cross-shaped stigma]]
===Cultivation and uses===
Young [[root]]s can be eaten like a vegetable (with a [[black pepper|peppery]] flavour), or the [[shoots]] can be eaten as a [[salad]]. The whole plant was used to prepare an [[infusion]] with [[astringent]] and [[sedative]] properties. It was considered to be effective in healing [[asthmatic]] coughs, [[digestive|gastro-intestinal]] disorders, [[Pertussis|whooping cough]] and as a sedative pain-killer. Poultices containing ''O. biennis'' were at one time used to ease [[bruise]]s and speed [[wound]] healing. One of the common names for ''Oenothera'', "Kings cureall", reflects the wide range of healing powers ascribed to this plant, although it should be noted that its efficacy for these purposes has not been demonstrated in clinical trials.
The mature seeds contain approximately 7-10[[%]] [[gamma-linolenic acid]], a rare [[essential fatty acid]]. The ''O. biennis'' seed oil is used to reduce the pains of [[premenstrual stress syndrome]]. Gamma-linolenic acid also shows promise against breast cancer.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4395826.stm | title=Plant oil 'acts like cancer drug' | date=[[2005-11-02]]}} (describing work by Dr Javier Menendez and colleagues at Northwestern University and published in ''Journal of the National Cancer Institute'').</ref>
Evening Primroses are very popular [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens. For propagation, the seeds can be [[sowing|sown]] ''in situ'' from late spring to early summer. The plant will grow successfully in fertile soils if competing species are kept at bay. Evening primrose species can be planted in any ordinary, dry, well-drained garden [[soil]] (preferly [[sand]]y [[loam]]) in an open site that is sunny to partly shady. They are fairly [[drought]]-resistant.
The first plants to arrive in Europe reached [[Padua]] from [[Virginia]] in [[1614]] and were described by the English botanist [[John Goodyer]] in 1621. Some species are now also [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] in parts of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], and can be grown as far north as 65° N in [[Finland]]. The UK National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, based at [[Wisley]], maintains an ''Oenothera'' collection as part of its National Collections scheme.
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://ravenel.si.edu/botany/onagraceae/index.htm Clasification of the Evening Primrose Family at the Smithsonian Institution]
* [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/primro70.html Details from A Modern Herbal, by Mrs M Greives at Botanical.com]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Oenothera+biennis Plants For A Future]
* [http://www.birthscene.com/content.cfm?contentID=379 Pre and Post Natal Botanical Therapies at Birthscene]
* [http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?plant=4389 Permaculture.info]
* [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/EveningPrimrosech.html EP as complementary medicine]
* [http://www.medicinenet.com/evening_primrose_oil-oral/article.htm Evening Primrose Oil]
[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Onagraceae]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Oenothera''
| image = Floare galbena bgiu.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''[[Oenothera erythrosepala]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Onagraceae]]
| genus = '''''Oenothera'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 125, including:<br/>
''[[Oenothera acaulis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera albicaulis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera argillicola]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera biennis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera brachycarpa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera caespitosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera californica]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera coronopifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera coryi]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera deltoides]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera drummondii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera elata]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera erythrosepala]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera flava]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera fruticosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera glazioviana]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera hookeri]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera jamesii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera kunthiana]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera laciniata]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera longissima]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera macrocarpa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera missouriensis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera nuttallii]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera pallida]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera perennis]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera pilosella]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera primiveris]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera rhombipetala]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera rosea]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera speciosa]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera stubbei]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera taraxacoides]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera tetraptera]]''<br/>
''[[Oenothera triloba]]''
}}
'''''Oenothera''''' is a genus of about 125 species of [[Annual plant|annual]], [[biennial]] and [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] flowering plants, native to [[the Americas|North and South America]]. It is the [[type genus]] of the family [[Onagraceae]]. Common names include '''evening primrose''', '''suncups''', and '''sundrops'''.
The species vary in size from small alpine plants 10 cm tall (e.g. ''O. acaulis'' from [[Chile]]), to vigorous lowland species growing to 3 m (e.g. ''O. stubbei'' from [[Mexico]]). The [[leaf|leaves]] form a basal rosette at ground level and spiral up to the flowering stems; the leaves are dentate or deeply lobed (pinnatifid). The [[flower]]s open in the evening, hence the name "evening primrose", and are yellow in most species but white, purple, pink or red in a few; there are four petals. One of the most distinctive features of the flower is the [[Stigma (flower)|stigma]] with four branches, forming an X shape.<ref>{{cite book | title=A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America | author=[[Roger Tory Peterson]] and Margaret McKenny | isbn=0-395-91172-9 | year=1968}}</ref> [[Pollination]] is by [[Lepidoptera]] (moths) and [[bee]]s; like many members of the [[Onagraceae]], however, the pollen grains are loosely held together by viscin threads (see photo below), meaning that only bees that are morphologically specialized to gather this pollen can effectively pollinate the flowers (it cannot be held effectively in a typical bee [[scopa (biology)|scopa]]). Furthermore, the flowers are open at a time when most bee species are inactive, so the bees which visit ''Oenothera'' are also compelled to be [[vespertine (biology)|vespertine]] temporal specialists. The [[seed]]s ripen from late summer to fall.
''Oenothera'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Schinia|Schinia felicitata]]'' and ''[[Schinia|Schinia florida]]'', both of which feed exclusively on the genus, the former exclusively on ''O. deltoides''.
In the wild, evening primroses acts as primary colonizers, springing up wherever a patch of bare, undisturbed ground may be found. This means that they tend to be found in poorer environments such as [[dune]]s, roadsides, railway embankments and wasteland. It often occurs as a casual, eventually being out-competed by other species.
{| align=left
|[[Image:Evening primrose - England - large.JPG|thumb|left|An evening primrose cultivated in England]]
|-
|[[Image:Primrose-brighter.jpg|thumb|left|An evening primrose blossom opening in Pennsylvania]]
|-
|[[Image:Oenothera pollen.jpg|thumb|left|Pollen of ''Oenothera fruticosa'' (scanning electron microscope image)]]
|}
The genus ''Oenothera'' may have originated in [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]]. During the [[Pleistocene]] era a succession of [[ice age]]s swept down across [[North America]], with intervening warm periods. This was repeated for four ice ages, with four separate waves of colonization, each hybridizing with the remnants of the previous waves. This generated a present-day population that is very rich in [[genetic diversity]], spread right across the North American continent.
It was originally assigned to the genus ''Onagra'', which gave the family Onagraceae its name. ''Onagra'' (meaning "(food of) [[onager]]") was first used in [[botany]] in 1587, and in English in [[Philip Miller]]'s 1754 ''Gardeners Dictionary: Abridged''. Its modern name ''Oenothera'' was published by [[Carolus Linnaeus]] in his ''[[Systema Naturae]]''. [[William Baird]] suggests that since ''oeno'' means "wine" in Greek it refers to the fact that the root of the edible ''Oenothera biennis'' was used as a wine flavor additive.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
[[Image:Oenothera speciosa0.jpg|right|thumb|An evening primrose flower, showing the cross-shaped stigma]]
===Cultivation and uses===
Young [[root]]s can be eaten like a vegetable (with a [[black pepper|peppery]] flavour), or the [[shoots]] can be eaten as a [[salad]]. The whole plant was used to prepare an [[infusion]] with [[astringent]] and [[sedative]] properties. It was considered to be effective in healing [[asthmatic]] coughs, [[digestive|gastro-intestinal]] disorders, [[Pertussis|whooping cough]] and as a sedative pain-killer. Poultices containing ''O. biennis'' were at one time used to ease [[bruise]]s and speed [[wound]] healing. One of the common names for ''Oenothera'', "Kings cureall", reflects the wide range of healing powers ascribed to this plant, although it should be noted that its efficacy for these purposes has not been demonstrated in clinical trials.
The mature seeds contain approximately 7-10[[%]] [[gamma-linolenic acid]], a rare [[essential fatty acid]]. The ''O. biennis'' seed oil is used to reduce the pains of [[premenstrual stress syndrome]]. Gamma-linolenic acid also shows promise against breast cancer.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4395826.stm | title=Plant oil 'acts like cancer drug' | date=[[2005-11-02]]}} (describing work by Dr Javier Menendez and colleagues at Northwestern University and published in ''Journal of the National Cancer Institute'').</ref>
Evening Primroses are very popular [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens. For propagation, the seeds can be [[sowing|sown]] ''in situ'' from late spring to early summer. The plant will grow successfully in fertile soils if competing species are kept at bay. Evening primrose species can be planted in any ordinary, dry, well-drained garden [[soil]] (preferly [[sand]]y [[loam]]) in an open site that is sunny to partly shady. They are fairly [[drought]]-resistant.
The first plants to arrive in Europe reached [[Padua]] from [[Virginia]] in [[1614]] and were described by the English botanist [[John Goodyer]] in 1621. Some species are now also [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] in parts of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], and can be grown as far north as 65° N in [[Finland]]. The UK National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, based at [[Wisley]], maintains an ''Oenothera'' collection as part of its National Collections scheme.
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://ravenel.si.edu/botany/onagraceae/index.htm Clasification of the Evening Primrose Family at the Smithsonian Institution]
* [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/primro70.html Details from A Modern Herbal, by Mrs M Greives at Botanical.com]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Oenothera+biennis Plants For A Future]
* [http://www.birthscene.com/content.cfm?contentID=379 Pre and Post Natal Botanical Therapies at Birthscene]
* [http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?plant=4389 Permaculture.info]
* [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/EveningPrimrosech.html EP as complementary medicine]
* [http://www.medicinenet.com/evening_primrose_oil-oral/article.htm Evening Primrose Oil]
[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Onagraceae]]