Evening-Primrose

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Evening-Primrose
• Rosy Evening-primrose
• Pink Evening-Primrose
• Rose Evening-Primrose
• pink evening primrose
• rose evening primrose

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hartmannia rosea var. parvifolia
• Oenothera rosea var. parvifolia
• Oenothera rubra
• Hartmannia rosea
• Gaura epilobia
• Hartmannia virgata
• Oenothera psychrophila
• Oenothera virgata
• Oenothera rosea f. epilobiifolia
• Oenothera rosea var. helleri
• Oenothera lyrata
• Godetia heucki
• Oenothera rosea var. lyrata
• Xylopleurum roseum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its classification through the subclass Magnoliidae and order Myrtyleales, it is situated in the family Onagraceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Oenothera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Oenothera rosea, exhibits a specific distribution across various parts of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Germany. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is widely found throughout Southwestern Europe. Specifically, this species inhabits the Balearic Islands as well as the mainland regions of France and Portugal. Finally, its geographical range extends through the landscapes of Spain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Oenothera rosea is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse landscapes, ranging from sea level to high-altitude environments. It is commonly found in lowland habitats, though its ecological niche extends significantly upward into mountainous regions. The species exhibits a vast elevational range, starting from a minimum of 0 m AMSL and reaching a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. Across its entire geographic spread, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1500 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to both temperate lowlands and cooler, higher-elevation ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Oenothera rosea is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can function as an annual, biennial, or perennial, allowing the species to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle via a seasonal growth pattern where the majority of the plant's biomass dies back to the soil level at the end of the growing season. This life form is further specified through its classification as a therophyte in both its primary and secondary botanical descriptions, indicating a reliance on seeds to persist through unfavorable periods.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Oenothera rosea is characterized by a growth form categorized as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This terrestrial plant grows as an independent organism, neither functioning as a parasite nor an epiphyte. It features an erect shoot orientation and is a self-supporting species rather than a climber or vine. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.12 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum height of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.12 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Oenothera rosea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy that facilitates carbon fixation in temperate environments. Its vegetative architecture is defined by elliptic-shaped leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability. The leaves typically maintain a mean width of 1 cm, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. In terms of longitudinal growth, the leaf length varies from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, resulting in a calculated mean leaf size of approximately 3.1758 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 327.45 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the relationship between its leaf area and its dry mass, providing insight into its resource acquisition strategies and leaf thickness.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.1758 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

327.45 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Oenothera rosea is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers that exhibit a pink coloration. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in June, during which the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for pollination. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, emphasizing the importance of insect vectors. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 0.85 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 2.5 cm) and a mean width of 0.3 cm to 0.7 cm. The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in size, with a consistent mean length of 0.75 mm and a mean mass of 7e-05 g. Seed dispersal is achieved through both anemochorous (wind) and anthropochorous (human) syndromes, allowing the species to spread across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

1 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

0.75 mm

Seed mass mean:

7e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Oenothera rosea has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROFORM, ETHYL ACETATE, Flavonoids, n-Hexane, n-butanol.

CHLOROFORM

1. BioMed research international

ETHYL ACETATE

1. BioMed research international

Flavonoids

1. BioMed research international

n-Hexane

1. BioMed research international

n-butanol

1. BioMed research international

Activities

Oenothera rosea has 6 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. BioMed research international

Antibacterial

1. BioMed research international

Antidiabetic

1. BioMed research international

Antimicrobial

1. BioMed research international

Antioxidant

1. BioMed research international

Antiproliferative

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Medicinal Uses

Oenothera rosea has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include edema, gastric cancer, prostate cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations