Evening Primrose
Ted Bodner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / James H. Miller and Karl V. Miller. 2005. Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. University of Georgia Press., Athens.
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2: 595.
Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Names: Evening Primrose (English); Oenothera biennis (Latin)
Other Common Names: King’s Cure All
Habitat and Origin: Can be found all over North America in meadows or along stream banks in plains or in lower mountain ranges.
Characteristics: Biennial or short lived perennial with rosette shaped leaves and bright yellow, four petal flowers.
Edible Portion: Young roots can be eaten like a vegetable raw or cooked. Shoots can be eaten in a salad. Young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. Flowers can be eaten raw. Seed pods can be eaten cooked or steamed.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Can grow in all soil types with sun or partial shade.
Aboriginal Peoples Uses: The roots were boiled and eaten like potatoes or pounded and applied to boils. Young leaves were cooked like greens. The entire plant can be applied to bruises or rubbed on muscles to improve strength. It can also be used as an aid to menstrual or bowel pain.