Oenothera biennis
| Oenothera biennis | |
 | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Oenothera biennis (common name: evening primrose) is a biennial that blooms in the evening and closes by noon.
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ from late spring to early summer[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a dryish well-drained sandy loam and a warm sunny position[2][3][1], though it is tolerant of most soils[3]. Heavy clay soils may induce winter rots[1]. Grows well on very poor soils[4][5]. Established plants are drought resistant[4].
Formerly cultivated for its edible roots, the evening primrose is being increasingly cultivated for the oil contained in its seed which contains certain essential fatty acids and is a very valuable addition to the diet[6]. See the notes on medicinal uses for more details.
The flowers open in the evening and are strongly scented with a delicious sweet perfume[7], attracting pollinating moths[3]. The seeds are a good food source for birds[1].
Plants usually self-sow freely if they are growing in a suitable position, they can naturalize in the wild garden[3][K].
Range: Eastern N. America - Labrador, south to Florida and Texas. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Dunes, roadsides, railway banks and waste places in Britain[8], often in sandy soils[3].
Edibility: Root - cooked. Boiled and eaten like salsify[3][9][10][11][6]. Fleshy, sweet and succulent[12]. Wholesome and nutritious[13]. A peppery taste[14]. The taste somewhat resembles salsify or parsnips[15].
Young shoots - raw or cooked[13][9][16][17][15]. Mucilaginous, with a peppery flavour, they are best used sparingly[14]. Another source suggests that the shoots should not be eaten[18].
Flowers - sweet. Used in salads or as a garnish[15].
Young seedpods - cooked. Steamed[15].
The seed contains 28% of a drying oil[19]. It is edible and a very good source of gamma-linolenic acid[20], an essential fatty acid that is not found in many plant sources and has numerous vital functions in the body. The seed, however, is very small and difficult to harvest, it has to be done by hand[4]. Overall yields are low, making the oil very expensive to produce.
Medicinal: The bark and the leaves are astringent and sedative[3][21]. They have proved of use in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders of a functional origin, whooping cough and asthma[3]. A syrup made from the flowers is also an effective treatment for whooping cough[22]. The bark is stripped from the flowering stem and dried for later use, the leaves are also harvested and dried at this time[3].
Evening primrose oil has become a well-known food supplement since the 1980's. Research suggests that the oil is potentially very valuable in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, pre-menstrual tension, hyperactivity etc[6]. It is also taken internally in the treatment of eczema, acne, brittle nails, rheumatoid arthritis and alcohol-related liver damage[5]. Regular consumption of the oil helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower the blood pressure[21][6]. The seed is a good source of gamma-linolenic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid which assists the production of hormone-like substances[23][5]. This process is commonly blocked in the body, causing disorders that affect the uterine muscles, nervous system and metabolism[5].
The poulticed root is applied to piles and bruises[23].
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of obesity and bowel pains[23].
Usage: The oil from the seed is added to skin preparations and cosmetics. It is often combined with vitamin E to prevent oxidation[5].
A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[22].
A finely ground powder made from the flowering stems is used cosmetically in face-masks to counteract reddened skins[22].
Pollinators: Lepidoptera, bees, self
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Onagra biennis.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Freethy, Ron. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press, 1985.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
- ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
- ↑ Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Chakravarty, Hiralal. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. 1976.
- ↑ Carruthers, S. Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading, 1986.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.