evening primrose

evening primrose
1. a plant, Oenothera biennis, having yellow flowers that open at nightfall.
2. any of various plants of the same or related genera.
[1800-10]

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Any of various species of herbaceous plants of the genus Oenothera (family Onagraceae).

They are noted for their showy flowers, especially the yellow-flowered biennial O. biennis, which is found widely throughout North America and and has been introduced to Europe. It has been grown by geneticists to determine certain principles of heredity. The true primrose belongs to the family Primulaceae.

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plant
 any of various species of herbaceous plants of the genus Oenothera, of the family Onagraceae, noted for their showy flowers. The name is especially applied to O. biennis (see photograph—>), which occurs widely throughout North America and has been introduced into Europe. The true primrose belongs to the family Primulaceae.

      O. biennis is a biennial that grows 90–150 cm (3–5 feet) tall. The leaves are alternate. The flowers are yellow and 2–5 cm (0.75–2 inches) across. It has been grown by geneticists to determine certain principles of heredity.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Evening primrose — Evening E ven*ing, n. [AS. [=ae]fnung. See {even}, n., and cf. {Eve}.] 1. The latter part and close of the day, and the beginning of darkness or night; properly, the decline of the day, or of the sun. [1913 Webster] In the ascending scale Of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • evening primrose — n. any of a genus (Oenothera) of plants of the evening primrose family, with yellow, pink, or white flowers, many of which open in the evening …   English World dictionary

  • Evening primrose — may refer to: * Evening Primrose , a musical * Oenothera , a flowering plant …   Wikipedia

  • Evening primrose — Primrose Prim rose , n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See {Prime}, a.] (Bot.) (a) An early flowering plant of the genus {Primula} ({Primula vulgaris}) closely allied to the cowslip. There are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • evening primrose — evening primroses N VAR Evening primrose is a tall plant with yellow flowers that open in the evening. Its seeds are used to make medicine …   English dictionary

  • evening primrose — ► NOUN ▪ a plant with pale yellow flowers that open in the evening, used for a medicinal oil …   English terms dictionary

  • evening-primrose — [ēv′niŋprim′rōz΄] adj. designating a family (Onagraceae, order Myrtales) of dicotyledonous plants found chiefly in temperate America, including the fuchsia, sundrops, and willow herbs * * * …   Universalium

  • evening primrose — n [U and C] a plant with small flowers, whose seeds are used to make medicines …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • evening-primrose — [ēv′niŋprim′rōz΄] adj. designating a family (Onagraceae, order Myrtales) of dicotyledonous plants found chiefly in temperate America, including the fuchsia, sundrops, and willow herbs …   English World dictionary

  • Evening Primrose — Infobox Musical name= Evening Primrose subtitle= caption=Anthony Perkins and Charmian Carr music=Stephen Sondheim lyrics=Stephen Sondheim book=James Goldman basis=John Collier s short story productions= 1966 US television series ABC Stage 67… …   Wikipedia

  • evening primrose — noun any of several plants of the family Onagraceae • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑enchanter s nightshade, ↑common evening primrose, ↑German rampion, ↑Oenothera biennis, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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