Common Evening-primrose - (Oenothera biennis) - Species

Common Evening-primrose - Oenothera biennis

Favourite Photos

image	species	author	location	uploaded	taken	select
	Common Evening-primrose - Oenothera biennis	dylan	Keynsham Memorial Park	24 Sep 2022, 3:40 p.m.	6 Jul 2022, 12:23 p.m.
	Common Evening-primrose - Oenothera biennis	dylan	Bristol	1 Oct 2022, 6:30 p.m.	1 Oct 2022, 12:41 p.m.

Species Description

Widespread but scattered throughout most of the UK but the far North. Most common in the South. Habitat includes: wasteland, coast, rough, grassland, road side verges, Other names include: Evening Primrose, Evening Star, Sundrop, Weedy Evening Primrose, German Rampion, Hog-weed, King's cure-all, Fever-plant. Growing habit: Annual / Biennial. Height: Up to 1.6 m. Flowers: June to September.

Stace 4:

Oenothera biennis L. (O. cambrica Rostański, O. rubricaulis Kleb.) - Common Evening-primrose.

Stems erect, to 1.5m; green parts of stems and fruits without hairs with red bulbous bases (these present on red blotches on stems); rachis green at tip; sepals green; petals (1)1.5-3cm, wider than long; 2n=14. Neophyte-naturalised; same habitats as O. glazioviana; frequent in Britain North to Central Scotland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, rare in Ireland; origin in Europe, America or both is disputed. The segregate O. cambrica is often recognised. It differs in green parts of stems and fruits with hairs with red bulbous bases; petals 2-3cm, about as wide as long; and lowest capsules without glandular hairs. It is coastal, or inland where introduced from coast, in Central & South Britain and Channel Islands. Reciprocal crosses and backcrosses between the two occur.

Key:

Petals (1)1.5-3cm; style shorter than stamens, the stigmas held at more or less the same level as anthers
Green parts of stems and fruits without hairs with red bulbous bases