Common Name: common evening-primrose
Latin Name: Oenothera biennis L.
Plant Family: Onagraceae
Habitat: gardens, fields, meadows; (needs sun)
Morphology: leaf type= simple; leaf arrangement= alternating flower= yellow, divided into 4 parts (i.e., petals)
Phenology: biennial (1st year is only in it’s basal state, while in it’s in the 2nd year that it flowers and fruits)
Traditional Uses: Cherokee food; leaves cooked and eaten as greens. Roots boiled like potatoes. Gosiute food; seeds used for food.
Traditional Western Herbalism: 7-10% Gamma Linoleic Acid; Mayo Clinic confirms efficacy to manage eczema.
1. http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Oenothera
2. https://oregonswildharvest.com/products/evening-primrose-oil
