Oenothera albicaulis
Whitest Evening Primrose
an annual or biennial member of the Oenothera genus in the family Onagraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Genus
- Oenothera
- Life cycle
- annual, biennial
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Lepidoptera, Bees, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Lepidoptera, Bees, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit[2][3]. Another report says that the plant has an edible seedpod[5]. The reports for edible fruit probably mean the seedpod[K]. Seed - cooked[6]. They can be used in soups or can be ground into a powder and then used as a gravy[6]. Root - cooked. Too small to be a staple food, but useful in an emergency, the roots taste best in late autumn, winter and early spring[5]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked[5].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
- Plant part
- Seedpod
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A poultice of the plant has been used to treat swellings[6]. A decoction of the root has been drunk and used as a lotion on muscle strains[6].
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - Arizona to S. Dakota and Montana.
- Habitat
- Rather dry grassy and disturbed places, 800 - 2200 metres.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in situ from late spring to early summer or in the autumn[4].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a dryish well-drained sandy loam and full sun[1][4]. Heavy clay soils may induce winter rots[4]. Succeeds in poor soils[4]. The flowers open in the evening, they are richly scented and are very attractive to moths.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9