Evening Primrose
OENOTHERA BIENNIS
Evening Primrose, Evening Star, Sundrop, Weedy Evening Primrose, Kings Cure-all
Native to Chile, Argentina, Northern & Central America
This biennial weed may grow to 1m tall, with a stiff reddish brown stem.
Dark green lance shaped, wavy edges, a conspicuous paler midrib, usually with tiny teeth on edges near tip. Leaves 5 to 20cm long x 1 to 2.2 cm wide forming a rosette at base in the first year, forming spiral stem leaves in the 2nd year, becoming shorter up the stem 3 to 10 cm x 5 to 12mm wide. Yellow, sweet smelling flowers, 2 to 4 cm across, 4 petals, notched at end, with conspicuous midrib, with 8 stamens, opening in the evening, fading to russet brown& crumpling. Flowering Spring to Autumn.
Seed capsule, 18 to 35 mm, club shaped, splits into 4 sections along midribs. Seeds, yellow to brown almost smooth, seeds germinate in Autumn to Spring. Seed is dispersed by wind & soil dispersed. Can remain viable in the soil for 80 years.
Mature seeds contain Gamma-linolenic acid which is an anti-inflammatory that is used to treat PMS, is beneficial to the skin & is used for eczema, bruising & wounds. It has a long history of medicinal usage. The leaves & roots have & are consumed by Native American Indians.
Frequently found on roadsides, wastelands & disturbed sites. Not dangerous to grazing stock. A favorite to birds & pollinating insects, often considered a beneficial rather than pest weed.