Common Evening-Primrose: October 2020; Harvest Moon

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

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