Common evening primrose

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Common evening primrose
Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Common evening primrose ( Oenothera biennis )

Systematics
Order : Myrtle-like (Myrtales)
Family : Evening primrose family (Onagraceae)
Subfamily : Onagroideae
Tribe : Onagreae
Genre : Evening primrose ( Oenothera )
Type : Common evening primrose
Scientific name
Oenothera biennis
L.

The Common evening primrose ( Oenothera biennis ), also known as Common Evening Primrose referred to, a species from the genus of the evening primrose ( Oenothera ) within the family of Onagraceae (Onagraceae). It is one of the naturalized neophytes in Central Europe , since it was introduced from North America to Europe as an ornamental plant around 1620 . It is now so widespread in Europe that most people perceive it as a native species.

description

Taproot versus a carrot
Leaf rosette in the first year
Racemose inflorescence
illustration
Fourfold, radial symmetry flower
Young fruits
Flower opens
Blossom from the side

Appearance and leaf

The common evening primrose is a biennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 0.8 to 1.8, with an ideal location up to 2 meters. In the first year it forms a rosette of leaves with a fleshy taproot on the ground . In the second year, a green or in the lower area reddish overrun, unspotted stalk rises from it , this is simple or sparsely branched and densely to sparsely hairy.

The undergraduate and alternate distributed on the stem standing leaves are stalked sitting or short and light to medium green. The leaf blades of the basal leaves are 10 to 30 inches long and usually 2 to 5 inches wide. The leaf blades of the stem leaves are 5 to 22 centimeters long and usually 1.5 to 5 (1 to 6) centimeters wide, narrowly obscured to elliptical with a pointed to acuminate blade base and a pointed upper end. The edge of the stem leaves is toothed to almost smooth, often lobed near the base of the blade. There is a red median nerve and indistinct lateral nerves.

Inflorescence and flower

In a mostly unbranched, dense, spike-like inflorescence on a straight, glandular hairy inflorescence axis, many flowers stand together. A flower sits in the axilla of each bract. The flower buds are green.

The hermaphroditic flower is radial symmetry and four-fold with a double flower envelope . The flower cup (hypanthium) is rarely 2, usually 2.5 to 4 centimeters long. The sepals and petals stand on it. The four green to more or less yellow, rarely more or less red sepals are usually 1.2 to 2.2, rarely up to 2.8 centimeters long and the downwardly curved calyx lobes are 1.5 to 3 millimeters long. The four petals are usually 1.2 to 2.5, rarely up to 3 inches long and 2.4 to 3.5 inches wide. The petals are intense yellow and turn orange as they wither. There are two circles with four stamens each. The anthers are usually 3 to 6, rarely up to 9 millimeters long. Deep down in the narrow flower cups is the vierfächerige under constant, hairy ovary . The stylus , several centimeters long (similar in length to the stamens), ends in four stigmas .

Common Evening Primrose Pollen Grain (400 ×)

Fruit and seeds

The young fruit is covered with glandular hairs and pointed hairs. The sedentary, loculicidal capsule fruit is cylindrical and more or less straight with a length of 2 to 4 centimeters and a diameter of 4 to 6 millimeters. The seeds are in two rows per fruit compartment. The 1.1 to 2 millimeter large, angular seeds have a brown to almost black and irregularly grained surface.

Chromosome set

The basic chromosome number is n = 7; there is diploidy , i.e. 2n = 14.

ecology

The common evening primrose is a hemicryptophyte . It is rooted up to 160 centimeters deep.

Flower ecology

The flowering period of the common evening primrose begins in Central Europe at the beginning of June and can last until the end of September if the location and weather conditions are good; in China it extends from July to October. The individual flowers are very short-lived. They open at dusk and usually fade by the next noon. The exact time at which the flowers open depends on the position of the sun, daytime temperature and humidity . In the common evening primrose there is self-compatibility and autogamy . That is, they pollinate themselves, with the help of butterflies. This is an advantage for a pioneer plant that likes to colonize new locations. In this way, a single specimen can produce greater genetic diversity among the offspring. Autogamy stands between cross-pollination and vegetative reproduction, which leads to genetically identical clones.

The flowers are often opened within a few minutes in one flowing movement. The suddenness and speed of blooming cannot be observed in any other plant found in Central Europe. It is therefore an occasionally used demonstration plant in botanical gardens and school gardens . A flower that opens is usually still odorless. Only after it has been fully opened does it spread an intensely sweet scent, which is sometimes perceived as intrusive and almost smelly. The scars are accessible to the pollinating insects at the flower entrance.

The pollination

When you open the "stem plate flower", the ripe anthers start to dust, which is why the flower is referred to as "male". The pollen grains, which are about 50% fertile , are matted with each other via viscine threads and thus easily get stuck in the coat or on the antennae of insects . Only when the anthers have been emptied do the scars mature. These lie close together immediately after the flower opens and unfold as the flower opens. Nectar for pollinating insects is secreted at the base of the calyx tube by a smooth, yellow nectar that lies above the ovary. Due to the horizontal position of the flower, the sap flows to the exit, where it sticks to the stylus resting on it.

The pollination takes place in summer about 30 minutes after opening the flowers mainly by moths of the family of enthusiasts , including Taubenschwänzchen (diurnal!) And Middle Weinschwärmer , in Central Europe frequently Schwärmerart. A hawkmoth, which is rather rare in Central Europe, is called evening primrose hawk because of its preference for the nectar of this plant .

The moths can occasionally be seen hovering in front of one of the flowers. When inserting the proboscis they brush against the anthers of the flower. As a result of a sideways movement of the stylus, the scars initially moved away from the direction of access to the nectar. Half an hour after the flower has opened, the style also stretches. Its scar branches spread apart and can now be pollinated by insects arriving later.

During the day, long-nosed bees as well as bumblebees and butterflies appear, attracted by the vivid yellow color of the petals with the line sap painting invisible to humans . Occasionally, on the leaves of the common evening primrose, the up to eight centimeters long caterpillar of the middle wine owl with the characteristic crescent-shaped and white-edged eye spots can be found . This caterpillar, which normally specializes in fireweed, can also use the evening primrose as a herbivore.

Seed pod of a common evening primrose

The spread of the seeds

Since each main or side shoot can produce up to 120 flowers, the common evening primrose is very spreading.

In China, the fruits ripen between July and November. When ripe, the four compartments of the capsule fruit tear open along the back seam as a result of dehydration from the tip to the middle.

Each seed pod houses up to 200 seeds. The triangular seeds have a membranous wing edge. As a spreading strategy, the common evening primrose uses the so-called semachory , the spreading by wind movement or the movement of the plant by animals. The seeds, which weigh only a thousandth of a gram, are scattered by movement from the vertically oriented capsule fruits. Then they are spread out as fliers by the wind with the help of their wing hem (so-called meteorochory ).

distribution

The original home of the common evening primrose is eastern and central North America .

The common evening primrose, like other types of evening primrose, was introduced as an ornamental plant to Europe and other temperate regions of the world in the 17th century (so-called ethelochory ). Due to its late introduction to Europe, it is one of the hemerochoric neophytes . Its extension near Paris is documented as early as 1623 . It was planted in Altdorf in 1660 and in Halle in 1668 and named Lysimachia virginiana major fl. Amplo . As a purely ornamental plant, it was already widely used. After it was discovered that its roots and leaves were edible, this species was grown as a vegetable in many kitchen gardens . As a garden refugee, this plant grew wild very quickly. As early as 1766, they were described as a weed in Brandenburg . Hybridizations with other evening primrose species have resulted in a large number of small species that are difficult to distinguish. Its current distribution is mostly due to unwanted displacement (so-called agochore spread ), as its seeds often get into the cargo. Oenothera biennis is also a neophyte in many temperate areas of the world .

The common evening primrose needs a dry, not too nutritious, but calcareous soil as a location . Throughout Europe, the Middle East and East Asia , it can be found at so-called ruderal places such as roadsides, gravel and sand pits, quarries and gravel banks. In Central Europe it is a character species of the Echio-Melilotetum from the Dauco-Melilotion Association. Because of its distribution along railway lines, it is sometimes referred to as the "railway plant". As early as 1884 it was described that the modern railway contributed to the spread and thus to the growth of this plant in areas that were not previously indigenous. High temperatures and sun ensure that the evening primrose thrives optimally. Partial shade is also tolerated.

etymology

Other common names are night flower, yellow nightshade, night cowslip, egg flower, yellow rapunzel, rapunzel celery, hare herb, rapontika, beet root, ham herb, ham root, proud Heinrich, wine flower or wine herb and cough flower.

Carl Linnaeus in 1753 published the currently accepted botanical genus name Oenothera , which is from the Greek words oinos οῖνος for "wine" and ther θήρ derived for "animal". Previously had called Oenothera ancient and medieval authors such as Pliny the Elder and Paracelsus believed that also to the family of Onagraceae counting fireweed ( Epilobium referred) (the North American species of evening primrose they could not yet know). They believed that when consumed with wine, parts of these plant species made people happy and wild animals gentle. The specific epithet biennis indicates that Oenothera biennis is two years old .

Systematics

The first publication of Oenothera biennis was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , 1, p 346. synonyms for Oenothera biennis L. are: Oenothera muricata L. , Oenothera suaveolens Desf. , Onagra biennis (L.) Scop. , Onagra muricata (L.) Moench

Oenothera biennis belongs to the Oenothera subsection from the Oenothera section in the Oenothera genus .

In the botanical system, mostly 13 small species form the species group or collective species Oenothera biennis agg. (Aggregate = collective type ), as these are very closely related, very similar to one another and therefore difficult to distinguish. They are genetically engineered hybrids that remain hereditary constant by means of a special cytogenetic mechanism (complex heterozygosity).

The species group Oenothera biennis agg. comprising: Oenothera biennis L. , Oenothera canovirens E.S.Steele , Oenothera carinthiaca Rostanski , Oenothera deflexa R.R.Gates , Oenothera erythrosepala (Borbás) Borbás , Oenothera fallax Renner ex Rostanski , Oenothera heiniana Teyber , Oenothera hoelscheri Renner & Rostanski , Oenothera pycnocarpa G.F.Atk. & Bartlett , Oenothera rubricaulis Kleb. , Oenothera salicifolia Desf. ex Ser. , Oenothera suaveolens Desf. , Oenothera wienii Renner ex Rostanski .

Cultivation

For the extraction of evening primrose oil, evening primrose can be grown in one and two-year agricultural cultures. With annual cultivation, sowing takes place in the first half of April, with two-year cultivation the fine seeds are sown shallow in midsummer. The nutritional requirements of the evening primrose are low. However, diseases and pests can affect the harvest.

As is typical for plant species that have not been cultivated very much, the seeds ripen unevenly. When three quarters of the capsule fruits are brown in color, the harvester is used to harvest. Since the seeds are stored very dry (the water content in the seeds must not exceed 9 percent), the cleaning of the seeds is followed by drying. With a two-year cultivation period, the seed yield is between 6 and 13 quintals per hectare, in organic farming one reckons with 3 to 7 quintals. The oil content of the seeds is 20 to 30 percent.

In the 1990s, the evening primrose was grown commercially on an experimental basis. In Germany, individual farmers are currently cultivating evening primrose fields in order to market the oil directly.

Diseases and pests

Downy mildew ( Peronospora arthuri ) and fungal diseases such as Septoria ( Septoria oenotherae ) are among the most common diseases of evening primrose. In addition, powdery mildew Erisyphe polygoni , the rust fungi Puccinia dioicae , Puccinia oenotherae and Puccinia pulverulenta and the fungi Mycosphaerella tassiana and Pleospora herbarum were detected. These can be effectively treated with fungicides. The earth flea and the evening primrose louse are typical pests of this plant, this also includes bird feeding on seed pods. To avoid disease and pest infestation, garlic broth, mulch or compost and rock flour can help.

use

Use as food

The leaves and roots of the plant were used as food by various Native American tribes.

The taproot of the evening primrose, popularly known as "ham root " or "ham herb" because of its pink color when cooked, can be harvested in the first year from October and eaten as a vegetable. The plant must not set any flowers, otherwise the roots will lignify. Their widespread use in Europe is mainly due to their frequent cultivation as a vegetable in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In addition to the beet-shaped taproots, the leaves, flowers and seeds are also edible. The roots are cooked in meat broth like black salsify or parsnips ; they are also occasionally cut into slices and dressed with vinegar and oil . The roots are harvested from autumn of the first year (rosette stage) to spring. In the modern kitchen, the petals are occasionally used as an edible decoration. In some regions such as Masuria , the roots and leaves were also used as pig feed .

Ancient proverbs said that a pound of evening primrose root gave as much strength as a hundredweight of ox meat. The common evening primrose is therefore one of the typical plant species of the cottage garden to this day , even if it is now mostly grown as an ornamental plant.

Open fruit with seeds.

Use as a medicinal plant

Already the North American natives used the seeds of the common evening primrose, crushed to a pulp, as a medicine.

In naturopathy today, evening primrose oil is particularly important. This oil obtained from the seeds is used internally for the treatment and symptomatic relief of neurodermatitis . It is also used in naturopathy for asthma , hay fever , high blood pressure, migraines and rheumatism . The evening primrose oil can also be used for menstrual and menopausal symptoms to alleviate the symptoms. Another area of ​​application is pet care. Skin irritation and hair loss can also be treated with the oil in the case of coat problems.

The oil contains large amounts of linoleic acid , which is converted into gamma-linolenic acid in the human body . The body uses it to form prostaglandin E 1 through further intermediate steps . Due to a deficient enzyme activity of delta-6 desaturase , neurodermatitis sufferers are said to have a deficiency in gamma-linolenic acid. The gamma-linolenic acid contained in evening primrose oil in a concentration between 8 and 14% enables the increased production of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E 1 without delta-6-desaturase-mediated conversion of cis -linoleic acid into gamma-linolenic acid. Since evening primrose oil is very expensive, hemp oil is increasingly being used as a substitute .

After a meta-analysis of more than 27 studies on the effectiveness of evening primrose oil, the Cochrane Collaboration 2013 came to the final assessment that both evening primrose oil and borage oil, which is also rich in gamma-linolenic acid, when taken orally, have no effect on eczema beyond a placebo effect.

Use in cosmetics

Due to its effects, evening primrose oil is also used as an active ingredient and additive in cosmetic articles, especially in skin creams. The ingredients have a calming effect on skin sensitive to irritation and can therefore be used pharmaceutically, especially on dry, flaky and itchy skin.

swell

  • Jiarui Chen, Peter C. Hoch, Warren L. Wagner: Oenothera Oenothera biennis , p. 424 - online with the same text as the printed work , In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven & Deyuan Hong (eds.): Flora of China , Volume 13 - Clusiaceae through Araliaceae , Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, 2007. ISBN 978-1-930723-59-7 (Description and Ecology Sections)
  • Azim Ghasemnezhad: Investigations on the effects of harvest methods and storage conditions on yield, quality and germination of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) seeds . Dissertation, University of Giessen 2007 (full text)
  • Helmut Hintermeier: The evening primrose. Virginia beauty. In: die biene - national journal for beekeepers. ISSN  0006-212X . Berlin, Volume 134, 1998, p. 12.
  • Heinz-Dieter Krausch : Imperial crown and peonies red ... - Discovery and introduction of our garden flowers. Dölling and Galitz, Hamburg 2003, ISBN 3-935549-23-7 .
  • Elisabeth Lestrieux, Jelena de Belder: The taste of flowers and blossoms. Dumont, Cologne 2000, ISBN 3-7701-8621-4 .
  • Angelika Lüttig, Juliane Kasten: Rose hip & Co - blossoms, fruits and spread of European plants. Fauna, Nottuln 2003, ISBN 3-935980-90-6 .
  • Common evening primrose. In: FloraWeb.de. (Sections Description and Ecology)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Common evening primrose. In: FloraWeb.de.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Jiarui Chen, Peter C. Hoch, Warren L. Wagner: Oenothera Oenothera biennis , p. 424 - online with the same text as the printed work , In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven & Deyuan Hong (Eds.): Flora of China , Volume 13 - Clusiaceae through Araliaceae , Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, 2007. ISBN 978-1-930723-59-7
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Entry in Jepson eFlora , Warren L. Wagner 2012.
  4. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp. 688 .
  5. ↑ The Evening Primrose - Wild Vegetables and Railway Plant. October 10, 2014, accessed March 29, 2015 .
  6. ^ Evening primrose, Oenothera - location, care and reproduction. Retrieved March 29, 2015 .
  7. ↑ Carl von Linné: Species plantarum . tape 2 . Stockholm 1753, p. 346 , doi : 10.5962 / bhl.title.669 ( digitized version ).
  8. ^ Oenothera biennis at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed March 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ a b Oenothera biennis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Evening primrose at the State Office for Consumer Protection and Agriculture (Land Brandenburg). (PDF 199 kB)
  11. ↑ Evening primrose: local oil plant for special applications. In: bio-based.eu. February 13, 2008, accessed August 18, 2016 .
  12. ↑ High-quality fatty acids from flax and evening primrose. In: bio-based.eu. July 21, 2004, accessed August 18, 2016 .
  13. ↑ Pacific Northwest Fungi Database: Onagraceae ( Memento of the original from June 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed June 23, 2015. Washington State University .  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / pnwfungi.wsu.edu
  14. ^ Evening primrose, Oenothera - Care instructions and propagation. Retrieved March 29, 2015 .
  15. ↑ a b c Bernd Voigtländer, Gerald Lattauschke: Little-known vegetables . 2., revised. Edition. Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Dresden 2013, DNB  1046706071 , p. 29 .
  16. ↑ Ordinary evening primrose. In: Verena Schmidt, Burda Senator Verlag GmbH, Offenburg, mein-schoener-garten.de. 2019, accessed November 8, 2019 .
  17. ↑ Wolfgang Blaschek (Ed.): HagerROM 2002: Hagers Handbook of Drugs and Drugs . Springer Electronic Media, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-540-14908-2 .
  18. ↑ Bamford, JTM et al .: Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema . In: The Cochrane Library . 2013. doi : 10.1002 / 14651858.CD004416.pub2 .
  19. ^ S. Krist, G. Buchbauer, C. Klausberger: Lexicon of vegetable fats and oils. Springer Verlag, Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-211-75606-5 , p. 302.

Web links

Commons : Common Evening Primrose ( Oenothera biennis )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files
This article was added to the list of excellent articles on September 16, 2005 in this version .