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Common Evening Primrose - Oenothera biennis


Family: Onagraceae – Evening Primrose family Genus Common Name: Evening Primrose Native Status: Native
Oenothera biennis - Common Evening Primrose. Common Evening Primrose is found in all but 7 states. From Carol in Virginia: "It booms just at dusk and you can actually see the petals move as it opens... All the grandchildren love to gather around a plant and guess which one will open next."

Journal Articles Referencing Evening Primrose

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Distribution of Oenothera biennis in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 18 May 2013). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2009-August-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The stigma has not opened in the blossom on the left, but the blossom on the right has the crossed stigma typical of many evening primroses.
Oenothera biennis
Site: Polk County, TN Date: 2004-August-24Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Blossoms arise from leaf axils near the end of the stem.
Oenothera biennis
Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2009-August-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
O. Biennis - Common Evening Primrose - may have a single stem, or, as in this photo, multiple stems arising about halfway or more up the plant. Leaves are alternating.
Oenothera biennis

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2013
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer