Oenothera elata

Oenothera elata is a species of Oenothera known by the common name Hooker's evening primrose or tall evening primrose. Subspecies include hookeri, hirsutissima, longisima, jamesii, villosa and elata.^[1] It is native to much of western and central North America. The plants are quite tall, especially the hookeri subspecies, native to California, which can reach about 1.8 meters (6 feet) height.^[2] The plants are found along roadsides, in moist meadows, or in woodland, from sea level up to 9,000 ft (2,700 m) in elevation.^[3]

Oenothera elata
Oenothera elata subsp. hookeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Onagraceae
Genus:	Oenothera
Species:	O. elata
Binomial name
Oenothera elata Kunth

Description

The stout, usually reddish stem has many long, narrow leaves, above a basal rosette. At its top is a large, open cluster of 2- to 4-inch wide yellow flowers with 4 large petals and protruding yellow stamens and 4-branched pistil, often covered in sticky pollen. The fragrant flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning orange or red.^[3]

Uses

The Zuni people apply a poultice of the powdered flower of the hookeri subspecies and saliva at night to swellings.^[4]

Gallery

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  Oenothera elata (Hooker's evening primrose), Irvine CA
• 
  Oenothera elata flowers, Eastern Sierra, CA
• 
  E. elata var hookeri, Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon CA
• 
  Oenothera elata: basal & stem leaves, reddish stems, large yellow flowers, & drying orange-red flowers