How to grow evening primrose (night-blooming evening primrose, evening star)
Evening primrose (night-blooming evening primrose, evening star) scientific name: Oenothera biennis. Aliases: evening star, mountain sesame, wild sesame. Family and genus: Onagraceae. Morphological features: biennial herb, 1 m tall. When grown as an annual, the plant is shorter. The whole plant is hairy, the stem is upright, and the lower part is much branched.
Evening primrose (night-blooming evening primrose, evening star)
Scientific name: Oenothera biennis
Aliases: evening star, mountain sesame, wild sesame
Family and genus: Onagraceae
Morphological features: biennial herb, 1 m tall. When grown as an annual, the plant is shorter. The whole plant is hairy, the stem is upright, and the lower part is much branched. Leaves lanceolate to ovate. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, petals 4, obcordate, flowers yellow, flower diameter 5 cm.
Ecological habits: sun-loving, cold-tolerant, drought-resistant, dislikes waterlogging, tolerant of poor soil, highly adaptable.
Flowering period: May to September, opening at dusk and wilting at dawn.
Flower language: an unyielding heart, a free heart. There is a saying that when a woman gives an evening primrose to a man, it represents “silent love”; there is also a common saying that evening primrose represents an unyielding heart and a free heart; some also say the flower language of evening primrose is “a beauty after bathing” magic.
Landscape uses: opens at night, fragrance pleasant, suitable for lighting up night scenes. Sunny slopes and mountains, forest edges, courtyards, flower beds and roadsides.
Species identification: showy evening primrose (red evening primrose) O. speciosa blooms during the day, flower color pink, a single stem's full bloom period is about 10 days, and in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area it is often used as a flowering ground cover under forests and at forest edges, in flower pots, flower beds and flower borders.
Medicinal value: evening primrose is the most important nutritional medicine discovered this century. It can treat many diseases, regulate lipid substances in the blood, and has a significant effect on coronary artery blockage, atherosclerosis and cerebral thrombosis caused by high cholesterol and high blood lipids.
Evening primrose Oenothera erythrosepala Borb. Evening primrose picture guide: how to grow evening primrose / how to propagate evening primrose
Evening primrose profileEvening primrose Oenothera erythrosepala Borb.
How to grow evening primrose and precautions. Introduction to evening primrose
Evening primrose is a perennial herb of the Onagraceae family, often cultivated as a 1- to 2-year-old flower. The seeds are used as medicine. It originated in the countries of North and South America, and after being introduced to Europe, it spread successively around the world. In China it is mainly grown in Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces and other places. Evening primrose is a medicinal plant with many uses. The seed oil is not only a medicine, but also a nutritional supplement and an ointment for refined cosmetics. The flowers may also be used to extract aromatic oil and concrete. Like the epiphyllum, it opens at night, hence the name "night-blooming evening primrose"; the fragrance is pleasant, suitable for lighting up night scenes, and used together with other greening materials for landscaping in gardens, courtyards, flower beds and roadsides.
Highly adaptable, acid-tolerant and drought-tolerant, with no strict requirements for soil; it can grow in generally neutral, slightly alkaline or slightly acidic soil, and in well-drained, loose soil; if the soil is too wet, the roots are prone to disease. In the north it is an annual plant, and south of the Huaihe River it is a biennial plant. It is the most important nutritional medicine discovered this century. It can treat many diseases, regulate lipid substances in the blood, and has a significant effect on coronary artery blockage, atherosclerosis and cerebral thrombosis caused by high cholesterol and high blood lipids.
Morphological features of evening primrose
[Original form] Perennial herb. The main root is well developed and woody. The stem is upright, up to 1 m tall, single or rarely branched at the base, sparsely covered with short white hairs. Basal leaves clustered, stalked; stem leaves alternate, with short stalks or stalkless, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, base narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate, both surfaces with short white hairs, veins and margins also with long soft hairs, margins with irregular sparse serrations. Flowers bisexual, solitary in the leaf axils at the ends of branches, bright yellow, stalkless, opening at night; calyx tube about 4 cm long, lobes 4, lanceolate, often two joined together when flowering, recurved; petals 4, obovate or obcordate; stamens 8; ovary inferior, 4-locular, stigma 4-lobed. Capsule long cylindrical, slightly 4-angled, 2 to 3 cm long, covered with short white soft hairs. Seeds brown, irregularly triangular. Flowering period July to September. Fruiting period August to October.
Plant height 1.5 to 2 m, root cylindrical, stem upright, branched. The seedling stage is rosette-shaped, with red long hairs at the base. Leaves alternate, the lower stem leaves have stalks, the upper leaves are nearly stalkless; leaf blades oblong, lanceolate, 6 to 9 cm long, 1.5 to 3 cm wide, margins with sparse fine serrations, both surfaces covered with white soft hairs. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils at the ends of branches, arranged in sparse spikes, calyx tube slender, apex 4-lobed, lobes recurved; petals 4, yellow, stamens 8, 4 opposite the petals. Pistil 1, stigma lobed. Capsule cylindrical, apex pointed, outer end pointed, covered with long white hairs, naturally splitting when mature. Seeds small, brown, irregularly triangular.
Upright biennial stout herb, basal rosette leaf cluster close to the ground; stem 50-200 cm tall, unbranched or branched, covered with curved soft hairs and spreading long hairs (hair bases blister-like), often mixed with glandular hairs at the upper ends of stems and branches. Basal leaves oblanceolate, 10-25 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, apex acute, base cuneate, margins sparsely and irregularly shallowly blunt-toothed, lateral veins 12-15 per side, both surfaces covered with curved soft hairs and long hairs; petiole 1.5-3 cm long. Stem leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, 7-20 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, apex acute to short acuminate, base cuneate, margins with 5-19 sparse blunt teeth per side, lateral veins 6-12 per side, both surfaces on each side covered with curved soft hairs and long hairs, especially the underside and margins of the upper stem leaves often mixed with glandular hairs; petiole 0-15 mm long. Inflorescence spicate, unbranched, or with secondary lateral inflorescences below the main spike; bracts leaf-like, reaching 1/2 of the flower when in bud, becoming elliptic-lanceolate when grown, gradually decreasing from bottom to top, nearly stalkless, 1.5-9 cm long, 0.5-2 cm wide, persistent in fruit; flower buds conical oblong, 1.5-2 cm long, 4-5 mm thick, apex with a beak about 3 mm long; floral tube 2.5-3.5 cm long, 1-1.2 mm in diameter, yellow-green or tinged red when flowering, covered with mixed soft hairs, spreading long hairs and short glandular hairs; falling off after flowering; sepals green, sometimes tinged red, oblong-lanceolate, 1.8-2.2 cm long, 4-5 mm wide at the lower broad part, apex suddenly contracted into a tail shape, 3-4 mm long, upright in bud, pressed together, reflexed from the base when open but turned up again in the middle, hair covering same as the floral tube; petals yellow, rarely pale yellow, broadly obovate, 2.5-3 cm long, 2-2.8 cm wide, apex slightly notched; filaments nearly equal in length, 10-18 mm long; anthers 8-10 mm long, about 50% of pollen developed; ovary green, cylindrical, 4-angled, 1-1.2 cm long, 1.5-2.5 mm thick, densely covered with spreading long hairs and short glandular hairs, sometimes mixed with curved soft hairs; style 3.5-5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 0.7-1.5 cm long; stigma surrounded by anthers. When flowering, pollen is directly deposited on the stigma lobes, lobes 3-5 mm long. Capsule conical cylindrical, narrowing upward, 2-3.5 cm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, upright. Green, hair covering same as the ovary, but gradually becoming sparse, with obvious angles. Seeds arranged horizontally in the fruit, dark brown, prismatic, 1-1.5 mm long, 0.5-1 mm in diameter, angular, each face with irregular pits.
It is a perennial herb of the Onagraceae family, often cultivated as a 1- to 2-year-old flower. The plant is upright or ascending, sparsely branched, with thick long hairs. Lower leaves linear-oblanceolate, stem leaves lanceolate, stalkless. Inflorescence spicate, unbranched, or with secondary lateral inflorescences below the main spike, flowers yellow, opening from evening to night, with a delicate fragrance. The upper part of the fruit is often thickened. Flowering period July to September.
Annual 60 to 90 cm tall, biennial plants 100-140 cm tall. Basal leaves clustered in a rosette, stem leaves alternate, lower leaves narrowly long lanceolate, upper leaves short and small. Stem upright, branched. Before bolting the root is fleshy, white and enlarged; after bolting the main root becomes woody. Flowers yellow. Flower diameter 4-5 cm. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, pale yellow, 5 cm in diameter. Capsule cylindrical, seeds tiny. Petals obcordate, flowering period June to October, fruit ripening period August to November. Can be direct-sown or transplanted from seedlings. Direct-sown seeds need low-temperature treatment in advance, then sowing, sowing rate 0.2 g/sq m, covering with soil about 0.5 cm after sowing.
Ecological habits of evening primrose
Highly adaptable, with no strict requirements for soil, cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soil, sun-loving, dislikes waterlogging, and needs a certain low-temperature stimulus to bolt and flower.
Evening primrose performs best when cultivated in courtyards in ventilated, open, bright places, in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam sections; it can also be potted and placed on a balcony for viewing. Under the moonlight in the quiet night, wafts of delicate fragrance make one feel refreshed. Evening primrose has strong self-seeding ability; after one planting, its self-sown seedlings can grow on their own every year and bloom continuously.
Growing environment
Evening primrose mainly grows on sandy ground by riversides, but it has also been found in high mountains and deserts. The flowers of evening primrose slowly open in the evening and wither at dawn, making it a plant that blooms only for the moon to see. Native Americans were the first humans to use evening primrose for therapeutic purposes. They used evening primrose to treat trauma, dermatitis and other diseases. In the 19th century, evening primrose was brought to Europe, and because it has the effect of treating many diseases, it quickly gained the reputation of [King's cure all].
In the northeast region of our country, all that originally existed were wild plants. In order to meet the domestic and foreign market demand for evening primrose oil, large-scale artificial cultivation has been carried out in recent years, with large-scale planting already in Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia regions, and through scientific research tackling key problems, high-yield, high-oil evening primrose has been successfully bred.
There are about 100 species in the same genus; commonly cultivated ones include: O. drummondii; O. odorata; O. speciosa, etc.
Variety classification of evening primrose: beach evening primrose(Flora of Fujian) sea hibiscus (Fujian)
Upright or prostrate annual to perennial herb, with a main root no more than 1 cm in diameter; stem 20-50 cm long, unbranched or branched, covered with white or purplish curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, sometimes with glandular hairs on the upper part. Basal leaves gray-green, narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic, 5-12 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, apex acute, base gradually narrowed or abruptly narrowed to the petiole, margins sparsely shallow-toothed to entire, both surfaces covered with white or purple curved soft hairs and long soft hairs; petiole 0-4 mm; stem leaves narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, sometimes elliptic or ovate, 3-7 cm long, 0.5-1.8 cm wide, apex acute to rounded, base gradually narrowed or abruptly narrowed to the petiole, margins sparsely shallow-toothed to entire, rarely pinnately lobed at the lower part, hair covering same as the basal leaves; petiole 0-3 mm long. Inflorescence spicate, sparsely borne at the tops of stems and branches, sometimes with a few branches at the lower part, usually one flower opens each evening; bracts narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate, 1-5 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide. Flower buds conical lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 7-11 mm in diameter; floral tube 2.5-5 cm long, about 1.5 mm in diameter, curving and extending upward before opening, densely covered with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, often mixed with glandular hairs; sepals green or yellow-green, margins tinged red when open, lanceolate, 2-3 cm long, hair covering same as the floral tube, free sepal teeth at apex 1-3 mm long; petals yellow, broadly obovate, 2-4 cm long, 2.5-4.5 cm wide, apex truncate or slightly notched; filaments 1-2.2 cm long; anthers 5-12 mm long, about 90%-100% of pollen developed; ovary 1.2-2.5 cm long, about 1.5 cm in diameter, densely covered with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, sometimes mixed with glandular hairs; style 5-7 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 2.5-3.5 cm long; stigma higher than the anthers when flowering, lobes 5-10 mm long. Capsule cylindrical, 2.5-5.5 cm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, hair covering same as on the ovary. Seeds elliptic, 1-1.7 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter, brown, surface with regular pits. Flowering period May to August, fruiting period August to November.
Native to the Atlantic coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico coast; cultivated and naturalized in Peru, Chile, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, Iraq, Egypt, South Africa and other countries. In China it is cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong and other places, and has become naturalized along coastal seashores.
Yellow evening primrose(Flora of Yunnan) red-sepal evening primrose (Handbook of Economic Plants), evening primrose (Seed Plant Handbook of Southern Jiangsu)
Upright biennial to perennial herb, with a thick large main root; stem 70-150 cm tall, 6-20 mm thick, unbranched or branched, often densely covered with curved soft hairs and sparsely spreading long hairs (hair bases red and blister-like), often densely mixed with short glandular hairs on the upper part of stems and branches. Basal leaves rosette-shaped, oblanceolate, 15-25 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, apex acute or slightly blunt, base gradually narrowed and decurrent as wings, margins with distant shallow wavy teeth from bottom to top, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, white or red, upper part dark green to bright green, both surfaces covered with curved soft hairs and long hairs; petiole 3-4 cm long; stem leaves spirally alternate, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, becoming smaller from bottom to top, 5-13 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm wide, apex acute or slightly blunt, base cuneate, margins sparsely distant tooth-like projections, lateral veins 8-2 pairs, hair covering same as the basal leaves; petiole 2-15 mm long, becoming shorter upward. Inflorescence spicate, borne at the tops of stems and branches, densely covered with curved soft hairs, long hairs and short glandular hairs; bracts ovate to lanceolate, stalkless, 1-3.5 cm long, 5-12 mm wide, hair covering same as on the inflorescence. Flower buds conical lanceolate, obliquely spreading, 2.5-4 cm long, 5-7 mm in diameter, apex with a beak about 6 mm long; floral tube 3.5-5 cm long, 1-1.3 mm thick, sparsely covered with curved soft hairs, long hairs and glandular hairs; sepals yellow-green, narrowly lanceolate, 3-4 cm long, 5-6 mm wide, apex tail-shaped, pressed together, reflexed when flowering, hair covering same as the floral tube but denser; petals yellow, broadly obovate, 4-5 cm long, 4-5.2 cm wide, apex bluntly rounded or slightly notched; filaments nearly equal in length, 1.8-2.5 cm long; anthers 10-12 mm long; about 50% of pollen developed; ovary green, cylindrical, 4-angled, 8-12 mm long, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, hair covering same as on the sepals; style 5-8 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 2-3.5 cm long; stigma extending beyond the anthers when flowering, lobes 5-8 mm long. Capsule conical cylindrical, narrowing upward, 2.5-3.5 cm long, 5-6 mm in diameter, with longitudinal angles and red grooves, hair covering same as the ovary but sparser. Seeds prismatic, 1.3-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, brown, angular, each face with irregular pits, about half aborted. Flowering period May to October, fruiting period August to December.
This species originates from a hybrid cultivated or naturalized in Europe, spread from the United Kingdom to garden cultivation in various countries in 1860. The earliest name of this species was described by Marlius (1875) based on cultivated material collected in Brazil in 1868 (Glaziou), and then spread rapidly around the world and escaped into the wild. In China it is commonly cultivated in the Northeast, North China, East China (including Taiwan, China) and Southwest, and has escaped into the wild. It often grows in open wasteland and along field roadsides.
Flowers large and beautiful, long flowering period, cultivated for ornament; seeds can be pressed for oil, edible and medicinal.
Cutleaf evening primrose(Flora of Taiwan)
Upright to outward-leaning annual or perennial herb, with a main root; stem 10-50 cm long, often branched, covered with curved soft hairs, sometimes mixed with long soft hairs, often mixed with glandular hairs on the upper part of the stem. Basal leaves linear-oblanceolate, 5-15 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, apex acute, base cuneate, margins pinnately deeply lobed, often entire toward the apex; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm long; stem leaves narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, 4-10 cm long, 0.7-3 cm wide, apex acute or slightly blunt, base cuneate, lower part often pinnately lobed, middle and upper parts toothed, upper part nearly entire; bracts leaf-like, narrowly oblong or narrowly ovate, 2-6 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, nearly horizontally spreading, apex acute, base blunt to cuneate, margins sparsely shallow-toothed or with a few pinnate lobes at the base; all leaves and bracts green, covered with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, the upper ones often mixed with glandular hairs. Inflorescence spicate, composed of a few flowers, borne at the tops of stems and branches, sometimes with a few branches at the lower part of the main spike, each spike opening one flower near sunset each day. Flower buds oblong and ovate, 2-3 cm long, 3-5 mm in diameter, often curving and extending upward before opening. Floral tube tinged yellow, tinged red when in full bloom, 1.5-3.5 cm long, about 1 mm in diameter, often covered with long soft hairs and glandular hairs, sometimes mixed with curved soft hairs; sepals green or yellow-green, reflexed when open, turning red, especially red at the margins, free sepal teeth at the apex in bud 0.5-3 mm long, covered with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs; petals pale yellow to yellow, broadly obovate, 0.5-1.3 (-2) cm long, 0.7-1.2 (-1.8) cm wide, apex truncate to slightly notched; filaments 0.3-1.3 cm long; anthers 2-6 mm long, about 50% of pollen developed; ovary 1-2.3 cm long, about 1.5 mm in diameter, covered with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, sometimes mixed with glandular hairs; style 2-5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 0.3-1.4 cm long; stigma surrounded by anthers, lobes 2.5-5 mm long, pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule cylindrical, narrowing toward the apex, 2.5-5 cm long, 2-4 mm in diameter. Seeds in 2 rows per locule, elliptic to nearly spherical, 0.8-1.8 mm long, brown, surface with regular pits. Flowering period April to September, fruiting period May to November.
Native to the eastern to central United States, later introduced to Europe, East Asia, Australia and South Africa for cultivation, and rapidly escaped into the wild. In China it has escaped into the wild in northern Taiwan, China, at an altitude of 50-1300 m, growing on coastal beaches or low-altitude open wasteland and field edges.
Long-fruited evening primrose Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. (Fraser's Cat. no. 56. 1813; Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 734. 1814.), native to the eastern to central United States, cultivated in China, but no report of naturalization has been seen. This species is very similar to cutleaf evening primrose, and some authors even merge them into one species; their relationship awaits future study.
Curved-spike evening primrose(newly proposed)
Upright to prostrate biennial herb, with a main root; stem 20-70 cm tall, 3-10 mm thick, unbranched, or when prostrate producing oblique or arcuate branches from the rosette leaf cluster, densely covered with appressed silky curved soft hairs and mixed with sparse long hairs, sometimes mixed with glandular hairs on the upper part. Basal leaves gray-green or dark green, narrowly oblanceolate, 10-30 cm long, 5-25 mm wide, apex acute, base gradually narrowed, margins with distant shallow teeth, lower part with wavy teeth, lateral veins 10-12 pairs, both surfaces covered with silky curved soft hairs; petiole 2-4 cm long. Stem leaves gray-green or dark green, narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 5-20 cm long, 5-27 mm wide, apex acute, base cuneate, margins with distant shallow teeth or blunt teeth, lateral veins 8-10 pairs, both surfaces appressed with silky curved soft hairs. Inflorescence spicate, borne at the tops of stems and branches, unbranched, the upper part often somewhat curved and ascending, rarely nearly upright; bracts stalkless, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate or elliptic, 2-10 cm long, 3-20 mm wide, often longer than the capsule in fruit, apex acute, base cuneate. Flower buds oblong to narrowly ovate, 0.8-1.5 cm long, 3-5 mm in diameter; floral tube yellow-green, turning red or with red spots when flowering, 1.5-4 cm long, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, appressed with silky curved soft hairs and sparse long hairs with blister-like bases and glandular hairs; sepals green to yellow, lanceolate, 1-1.7 cm long, 2.5-4 mm wide, pressed together, apex free, reflexed when flowering, 2.5-4 mm long, hair covering same as the floral tube; petals yellow or pale yellow, broadly obovate, 0.7-2 cm long, 0.8-2 cm wide, apex slightly notched; filaments 8-15 mm long; anthers 4-7 mm; about 50% of pollen developed; ovary 0.8-1.2 cm long, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, densely appressed with silky curved soft hairs and mixed with long hairs and glandular hairs; style 2-4.5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 4-8 mm long, stigma surrounded by anthers, lobes 3-5 mm long, pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule conical cylindrical, 1.5-4 cm long, 4-8 mm in diameter. Apex gradually narrowed, dark green, sometimes with red stripes or red spots, turning red-brown when dry. Seeds short wedge-shaped, 1-1.2 mm long, 0.8-1.1 mm in diameter, dark brown, angular, surface with irregular pits. Flowering period July to September, fruiting period September to October.
Native to North America, widely naturalized in Europe, sporadically escaped into the wild in Asia. In China it is cultivated in Fujian and has escaped into the wild. It grows on sunny barren slopes and along field roadsides.
Small-flowered evening primrose(newly proposed)
Upright biennial herb, with a main root; stem 30-150 cm tall, unbranched or branched, sparsely covered with curved soft hairs, long hairs and glandular hairs, sometimes only covered with curved soft hairs at the lower part, and bearing long hairs with blister-like bases on the upper part. Basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, bright green, 10-25 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, apex acute, base gradually narrowed, margins with shallow teeth, lower part with shallow wavy teeth, lateral veins 10-12 pairs, white or red, both surfaces sparsely covered with curved soft hairs; petiole 5-10 mm long; stem leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic, 5-16 cm long, 1-2.8 cm wide, apex acute or long acute, base gradually narrowed or cuneate, margins with shallow teeth, lateral veins 6-8 pairs, both surfaces sparsely covered with curved soft hairs; petiole 0-5 mm. Inflorescence spicate, borne at the tops of stems and branches, sometimes branched, upright or curved and ascending; bracts narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 1.5-5 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, both surfaces sparsely bearing curved soft hairs, glandular hairs and long hairs. Flower buds narrowly oblong, 0.8-1.5 cm long, 3-5 mm in diameter; floral tube pale yellow, 2.5-4 cm long, about 1 mm in diameter, nearly hairless, or with glandular hairs and long hairs; sepals green or yellow-green, slightly turning red when open, narrowly lanceolate, 0.8-1.7 cm long, 2.5-4 mm wide, pressed together, apex free, 1-5 mm long, reflexed when open, hair covering same as the floral tube; petals yellow or pale yellow, apex slightly notched; filaments 7-13 mm long; anthers 3.5-6 mm long, pollen about 7-13 mm long; anthers 3.5-6 mm long, about 50% of pollen developed; ovary conical cylindrical, 1-1.3 cm long, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, covered with curved soft hairs, mixed with sparse long soft hairs and glandular hairs; style 2.5-5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 0.2-1 cm long; stigma lower than or surrounded by anthers, lobes 2.5-6 mm long. Pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule conical cylindrical, 2-4 cm long, 3.5-5 mm in diameter, apex gradually narrowed, green, turning black when dry, hair covering same as the ovary but sparser, even gradually becoming hairless. Seeds brown or black, prismatic, 1-1.6 mm long, 0.5-1 mm in diameter, angular, each face with irregular pits. Flowering period July to September, fruiting period October.
Native to the eastern and central United States, cultivated and escaped into the wild in Europe, eastern Asia, New Zealand and South Africa. In China it has escaped into the wild in the Northeast (Liaoning). It grows on barren slopes and moist places by ditches.
Pink evening primrose(List of Seed Plants of Yunnan)
Perennial herb, with a thick large main root (up to 1.5 cm thick); stems often clustered, ascending, 30-50 cm long, much branched, covered with curved soft hairs, densely so when young on the upper part, sometimes mixed with long soft hairs, the lower part often purplish red. Basal leaves close to the ground, oblanceolate, 1.5-4 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, apex acute or bluntly rounded, gradually narrowed or abruptly narrowed from the middle, and irregularly pinnately deeply lobed and decurrent to the petiole; petiole pale purplish red, 0.5-1.5 cm long, basal leaves withered when flowering. Stem leaves gray-green, lanceolate (outline) or oblong-ovate, 3-6 cm long, 1-2.2 cm wide, apex bluntly acute at the lower part, acute to acuminate at the middle and upper parts, base broadly cuneate and abruptly contracted and decurrent to the petiole, margins with tooth-like projections, base finely pinnately lobed, lateral veins 6-8 pairs, both surfaces covered with curved soft hairs; petiole 1-2 cm long. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils at the tops of stems and branches, opening near sunrise in the morning; flower buds green, conical cylindrical, 1.5-2.2 cm long, apical sepal teeth contracted into a beak; floral tube pale red, 5-8 mm long, covered with curved soft hairs; sepals green, tinged red, lanceolate, 6-9 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, apical sepal teeth 1-1.5 mm long, back covered with curved soft hairs, reflexed and then turned upward when flowering; petals pink to purplish red, broadly obovate, 6-9 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, apex bluntly rounded, with 4-5 pairs of pinnate veins; filaments white to pale purplish red, 5-7 mm long; anthers pink to yellow, oblong-linear, about 3 mm long, about 50% of pollen developed; ovary narrowly elliptic at flowering, about 8 mm long, together with the pedicel 6-10 mm long, densely covered with curved soft hairs; style white, 8-12 mm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 4-5 mm long; stigma red, surrounded by anthers, lobes about 2 mm long, pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule club-shaped, 8-10 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, with 4 longitudinal wings, angles between the wings, apex with a short beak; fruiting pedicel 6-12 mm long. Seeds numerous per locule, nearly transversely clustered, oblong-obovate, 0.7-0.9 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm in diameter. Flowering period April to November, fruiting period September to December.
Native to southern Texas in the United States to Mexico, also found in the southwestern United States, Central America and the warm temperate middle mountain zones of South America. Cultivated and escaped into the wild in Eurasia (such as the Himalayan region of Asia, India, Nepal, Myanmar, etc.), South Africa and elsewhere. In China it has escaped into the wild in Zhejiang, Jiangxi (Lushan), Yunnan (Kunming) and Guizhou. It grows in wasteland grassland and semi-shaded places by ditches at an altitude of 1000-2000 m; its reproductive capacity is strong, and it becomes a harmful weed difficult to clear.
The root is used as medicine, with anti-inflammatory and blood pressure-lowering effects.
Evening star(Iconographia Cormophytorum Sinicorum) evening primrose (Flora of Yunnan), linear-leaved evening primrose (Yunnan), night-blooming evening primrose (Anhui, Zhejiang), mountain sesame (Yunnan)
Upright or outward-leaning annual or biennial herb, with a main root; stem unbranched or obliquely producing branches from the rosette leaf cluster, 30-100 cm tall, covered with curved soft hairs and spreading long hairs, the upper part also mixed with glandular hairs. Basal leaves narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 10-15 cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide, apex gradually narrowed and acute, base cuneate, margins with distant shallow teeth, both surfaces and margins bearing curved soft hairs and long soft hairs; stem leaves stalkless, green, 6-10 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, gradually smaller from bottom to top, apex gradually narrowed and acute, base heart-shaped, margins with 6-10 tooth-like projections per side, both surfaces covered with curved soft hairs, midrib and margins with long soft hairs, lateral veins inconspicuous. Inflorescence spicate, flowers sparsely borne in leaf axils above the middle of stems and branches; bracts leaf-like, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2-3 cm long, 4-7 mm wide, apex acute, base heart-shaped, margins sparsely tooth-like or entire, both surfaces covered with curved soft hairs and glandular hairs, midrib and margins with long hairs. Flower buds green or yellow-green, upright, oblong or lanceolate, 1.5-3 cm long, up to 7 mm in diameter, apex with upright or forked sepal teeth, 2-3 mm long, densely covered with curved soft hairs, glandular hairs and sparse long hairs; floral tube 2.5-4.5 cm long; sepals yellow-green, lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 4-6 mm wide, reflexed when flowering; petals yellow, with red spots at the base, broadly obovate, 1.5-2.7 cm long, 1.2-2.2 cm wide, apex slightly notched; filaments 1.5-2 cm long, anthers 7-11 mm long, about 50% of pollen developed; ovary 1.3-2 cm long; style 3.5-6.5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 1.5-2 cm long; stigma surrounded by anthers, lobes 3-5 mm long, pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule cylindrical, 2.5-3.5 cm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, covered with curved soft hairs and glandular hairs. Seeds obliquely extended in the fruit, broadly elliptic, without angles, 1.4-1.8 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter, brown, surface with regular pits. Flowering period April to October, fruiting period June to November.
Native to South America, Chile and Argentina; introduced and cultivated in other South American countries, North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa, and often escaped into naturalization. In China it is cultivated in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and elsewhere, and has escaped into the wild.
The flowers of this species are beautiful and fragrant, and it is often cultivated for ornament. The flowers can be used to extract aromatic oil; the seeds can be pressed for oil for food and medicine; the stem bark fiber can be made into rope; the root is an antipyretic medicine and can treat colds, laryngitis, etc.
This species was often mistaken for Oenothera odorata Jacg. in Eurasia and Australia in the past, because this plant is equal in height to the latter, the leaves are both linear, and both flowers are fragrant, so they are easily confused as the same species. The main differences are: the stem leaves of this species have a heart-shaped base, the bracts are not longer than the capsule, and the petals are not longer than 2.5 cm. While O. odorata has stem leaves with a cuneate base, bracts often longer than the capsule, and petals up to 5 cm long, etc., making them easy to distinguish.
Four-winged evening primrose(List of Chinese Seed Plants) conical-fruited evening primrose (Flora of Yunnan)
Perennial or annual herb, with a main root. Stems often clustered, upright or ascending, 10-30 cm tall, branched from the base and sometimes also from the upper part, covered with curved soft hairs and sparsely spreading long hairs with blister-like bases. Basal leaves dark green, elliptic to narrowly obovate, 2.5-3 cm long, 4-10 mm wide, apex acute or slightly blunt, base cuneate or gradually narrowed and decurrent into a stalk (0.5-1 cm long), margins sparsely shallow tooth-like, often with pinnately lobed stalk at the base, upper part entire, lateral veins 3-5 pairs, both surfaces and margins sparsely covered with curved soft hairs, or nearly hairless; stem leaves nearly stalkless, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 1.5-7 cm long, 0.6-2.5 cm wide, apex acute, base narrowly cuneate, margins with 3-5 shallow teeth per side, the lower part somewhat deeply pinnately lobed, both surfaces sparsely covered with curved soft hairs. Inflorescence racemose, composed of a few flowers, borne in the leaf axils at the tops of stems and branches; bracts leaf-like, lanceolate, 1-2.5 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, long acute, base cuneate, margins with several teeth or lobes. Flower buds conical oblong, 1.5-2 cm long, 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter, apex acuminate, free sepal teeth upright, 2-3 mm long, covered with curved soft hairs; pedicel 3-6 mm long, together with the ovary densely covered with curved soft hairs and long hairs. Flowers open in the evening; floral tube nearly funnel-shaped, 0.8-1.5 cm long, throat 3-5 mm in diameter; sepals yellow-green, narrowly lanceolate, 1.7-2.2 cm long, 3-4 mm wide, reflexed when open, then turned upward from the middle; petals white, turning purplish red after pollination, broadly obovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 1.3-2.3 cm wide, apex bluntly rounded or slightly notched; filaments white, 1.2-1.5 cm long; anthers yellow, oblong, about 4-6 mm long, all pollen developed; style 2-2.5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 1.2-1.4 cm long; stigma green, higher than the anthers, lobes 2.5-3.5 mm long. Capsule obovate, rarely club-shaped, 1-1.5 cm long, 6-12 mm in diameter, with 4 longitudinal wings, white angles between the wings, apex abruptly contracted into a beak, densely covered with spreading long hairs; fruiting pedicel 1.2-2 cm long, seeds obovate, without angles, 0.8-1 mm long, 0.5-0.6 mm in diameter, pale brown, surface with regular pits. Flowering period May to August, fruiting period July to October.
Native to Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the southwestern United States (Texas and southern California), and Venezuela. Introduced and cultivated in various places of the Old World, and rapidly escaped into the wild. In China it has escaped in Yunnan (Kunming, Yiliang), Guizhou (Guiyang), Taiwan, China (Nantou) and other places. It grows on hillside roadsides, open or shaded grassland on field ridges, at an altitude of 1000-2200 m.
Long-haired evening primrose(newly proposed)
Upright biennial herb, with a thick large main root; stem 50-200 cm tall, 5-20 mm thick, unbranched or branched, densely covered with nearly appressed curved soft hairs and long hairs. Basal leaves rosette-shaped, narrowly oblanceolate, 15-30 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, apex acute, base gradually narrowed, margins with obvious shallow teeth, lateral veins 10-13 pairs, pale green, sometimes pale red, both surfaces appressed with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs, petiole 1.5-2.5 cm long; stem leaves dark green or gray-green, gradually smaller from bottom to top, oblanceolate to elliptic, 8-20 cm long, 1.2-3 cm wide, apex acute, base cuneate, margins with shallow teeth, sometimes with shallow wavy teeth at the lower part, lateral veins 10-12 pairs, both surfaces especially the veins on the underside appressed with curved soft hairs and long soft hairs; petiole becoming shorter from bottom to top, 0-8 mm long. Inflorescence spicate, borne at the top of the stem, unbranched, apex upright; bracts lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or ovate, nearly stalkless, longer than the flower buds, 2-7 cm long, 0.7-2 cm wide, apex acute, base broadly cuneate or bluntly rounded. Flower buds conical cylindrical to cylindrical, 1-2 cm long, 3-5 mm in diameter, apex with a beak 1-3 mm long; floral tube pale yellow or red, 2.5-4.2 cm long, about 1 mm in diameter, densely appressed with curved soft hairs and sparsely spreading or appressed long soft hairs, sometimes mixed with sparse glandular hairs; sepals green to yellow-green, lanceolate, 1-1.8 cm long, 2.5-4.5 mm wide, hair covering same as the floral tube but denser; petals yellow or pale yellow, broadly obovate, 1-2 cm long, 2-2.2 cm wide, apex slightly notched; ovary 0.7-1.5 cm long, densely covered with curved soft hairs and nearly appressed or spreading long soft hairs; filaments 7-15 mm long; anthers 5-10 mm long; about 50% of pollen developed; style 3-5 cm long, the part extending beyond the floral tube 0.4-1.4 cm long; stigma surrounded by anthers, lobes 3-9 mm long, pollen directly deposited on the lobes. Capsule cylindrical, gradually narrowing upward, 2-4 cm long, 5-6 mm in diameter, hair covering same as the ovary but sparser, gray-green to dark green, with red stripes and pale green veins, lobe apex upright. Seeds short wedge-shaped, 1-2 mm long, 0.5-1.2 mm in diameter, dark brown, angular, each face with irregular pits. Flowering period July to September, fruiting period September to October.
Native to North America, later spread to South America, Europe, Asia and southern Africa, and rapidly escaped into naturalization. In China it is cultivated and naturalized in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Hebei. It often grows in open field edges, wasteland, and relatively moist places by ditches, and naturalizes into a weed. The seeds can be pressed for oil for food and medicine.
Distribution range of evening primrose
Native to North America (especially Canada and the eastern United States), introduced to Europe early, and then rapidly spread to the temperate and subtropical regions of the world. It was introduced to China via Europe in the 17th century, and has escaped into the wild in many places; it is distributed in the Northeast and North China regions, and is cultivated in various places in the north. In China it is cultivated in the Northeast, North China, East China (including Taiwan, China) and Southwest (Sichuan, Guizhou), and has long since become escaped, often growing on open barren slopes and roadsides. This species often naturalizes in patches in the Northeast and North China regions of China; its seeds have an oil content of 25.1%, of which gamma-linolenic acid reaches 8.1%, making it the species with the most development prospects.
Habitat and distribution
Ecological environment: grows on sunny slopes, barren grassland, sandy land and sandy gravel places along roadsides and riverbanks at an altitude of 1100 m.
Resource distribution: distributed in the Northeast, North China and Guizhou and other places. Mostly cultivated in parks and courtyards. Native to the humid temperate regions of the Americas.
Geographical distribution
Evening primrose is produced in Chile and Argentina in South America. It has been widely introduced and planted in temperate and subtropical countries around the world. In China it is cultivated and escaped in the Northeast, Inner Mongolia, North China, East China, Central South, Southwest and other places, as well as in cities and towns of Shaanxi Province. In the Transcaucasus and the Far East pastoral areas, as early as the early 1950s, it was already used as an excellent grass species for artificial grassland construction.
Effects and uses of evening primrose
Many natural cosmetics use evening primrose oil as a main ingredient. Evening primrose contains high concentrations of fatty acids and linolenic acid (GLA), which can prevent and treat psoriasis, eczema and other skin symptoms. Evening primrose can also lock in moisture. The fatty acids essential to the human body can keep nails healthy and prevent breakage. It nourishes the scalp and hair.
Utilization value
The flowers of this species are beautiful and fragrant, and it is often cultivated for ornament. The flowers can be used to extract aromatic oil; the seeds can be pressed for oil for food and medicine; the stem bark fiber can be made into rope; the root is an antipyretic medicine and can treat colds, laryngitis, etc.
Landscape uses of evening primrose: courtyard cultivation
Evening primrose is robust in nature, cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soil, sun-loving and dislikes waterlogging. It performs best when cultivated in courtyards in ventilated, open, bright places, in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam sections; it can also be potted and placed on a balcony for viewing. Under the moonlight in the quiet night, wafts of delicate fragrance make one feel refreshed. Evening primrose has strong self-seeding ability; after one planting, its self-sown seedlings can grow on their own every year and bloom continuously. For artificial sowing and propagation, it is advisable to sow in autumn in October. After winter begins, the young seedlings are heeled in in a sunny cold frame, covered at night to protect against the cold. The following spring they are planted out in the open or potted. They can also be sown in early spring in March and bloom the same year, but the flower quality is not as good as autumn sowing. When the sown seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, they are transplanted once to promote vigor, and when they grow to 6 to 7 true leaves they are planted in their final position. Evening primrose has a well-developed main root; generally after the potted plant survives, it can be pinched to promote branching and more flowering. During the growing period, depending on the strength of growth, apply an appropriate amount of organic or inorganic liquid fertilizer once every two weeks, and keep the potting soil moist at all times. After flowering, promptly cut off the spent flowers to reduce nutrient consumption, in the hope of blooming again. For home flower growing, seeds can be sown indoors in pots in early spring; because the seeds are small, broadcast sowing should not be too dense, and the covering soil should not be too thick. When the seedlings grow 6 true leaves, lift out the whole clump and transplant with soil into the ground or into pots; they can bloom in May and continue blooming until late October.
Among plants of the same genus, the commonly cultivated one also includes Oenothera odorata (fragrant evening primrose), with a plant height of 50 cm to 80 cm, triangular-linear cauline leaves, and large flowers reaching 5 cm to 7 cm in diameter, opening lemon-yellow and turning red as they fade. Oenothera odorata, about 1 m tall, with few branches, lanceolate cauline leaves, and bright yellow flowers with a delicate fragrance. Oenothera speciosa, 50 cm tall, with linear, sparsely toothed leaves and white to water-red flowers reaching over 8 cm in diameter, opening in the evening and remaining open until the next morning.
The dietary or medicinal value of evening primrose
The medical information and health dietary information on Hugarden are for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. For any health problem, consult professional medical personnel, and for the treatment of any disease, follow the doctor's advice.
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Efficacy
Evening primrose is also called late cherry grass. The flowers of evening primrose only slowly bloom in the evening and fade at dawn. The flower blooms for only one night, and legend says its blooming is especially for the moon to admire; the name evening primrose comes from this. Evening primrose oil is extracted from evening primrose seeds and is rich in GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). Gamma-linolenic acid is an essential fatty acid that the human body cannot synthesize on its own and must obtain from external sources. In the human body it is "processed" into a substance similar to a hormone (prostaglandin E1).
The amazing efficacy of evening primrose oil:
1. The efficacy of evening primrose oil on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women. Among women aged 15 to 50, statistics show that as many as 40 percent have premenstrual symptoms of varying degrees, mainly appearing 1-2 weeks before menstruation, including abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, anxiety, mood swings, breast tenderness or very soft breasts, joint pain, insomnia, rashes or acne on the face, and low libido. Women with severe premenstrual syndrome who take one 1000 mg capsule of evening primrose oil twice a day can have their symptoms completely improved. Another effect is to increase cold resistance in women who are usually afraid of cold, so that their limbs are not icy cold.
2. The efficacy of evening primrose oil on menopausal syndrome. Menopause is the physiological decline of ovarian function leading to reduced estrogen secretion, mainly manifested as insomnia, tension, irritability, low mood, facial hot flashes and sweating, etc. Supplementing natural evening primrose oil in menopausal women can balance endocrine disorders and relieve menopausal symptoms.
3. Efficacy on cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
4. The relationship between evening primrose oil and diabetes. It greatly reduces the probability of complications.
5. The relationship between evening primrose oil and eczema, asthma and allergies. If a young child has symptoms of eczema, asthma and allergies, evening primrose oil can be applied to tender areas of the skin, such as the abdomen and inner thighs. Because absorption is better, many symptoms can be improved. For adults, oral evening primrose oil can be used to improve allergic reactions in patients with atopic constitution.
6. The relationship between evening primrose oil and hyperactive children. Evening primrose oil can directly provide gamma-linolenic acid and rich essential fatty acids, greatly improving the symptoms of hyperactive children. Take one evening primrose capsule orally every morning and evening. Consuming evening primrose oil is absolutely beneficial for hyperactive children.
7. Evening primrose oil is beneficial to the skin, hair, eyes and nails.
8. The relationship between evening primrose oil and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The abundant GLA contained in evening primrose oil is a precursor of PGE1. After patients with rheumatoid arthritis take it, it can be directly synthesized into PGE1 in the body, which can inhibit the release of Lysosomal enzymes and stimulate the T lymphocytes of the immune system, promoting the normalization of autoimmune function. As long as the patient's own immune function returns to normal, the inflammatory factors are inhibited, and the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is eliminated.
Medicinal use
[Alias] Yelaixiang
[Source] Oenothera erythrosepala Borb. of the family Onagraceae, with the root used as medicine.
[Habitat and distribution] Guizhou.
[Chemical composition] The seeds contain about 20-25% fatty oil, and the oil contains linolenic acid glycerides.
[Nature, flavor and meridian entry] Sweet, warm.
[Functions and indications] Strengthen sinews and bones, dispel wind and remove dampness. Mainly treats rheumatism and muscle and bone pain.
[Usage and dosage] 0.5-1 liang.
[Excerpt] "Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines"
Medicinal properties
Evening primrose is warm in nature and sweet in flavor. It has the functions of strengthening sinews and bones and dispelling wind and removing dampness, and is used to treat rheumatism, muscle and bone pain and other conditions. Its seeds, after oil pressing, saponification and acidification, can first yield gamma-linolenic acid; using this as a raw material, through chemical structural modification and then biosynthesis, prostaglandin E1 can be obtained. It is a new drug for antithrombosis and vasodilation, widely used in thrombotic vasculitis, chronic arterial occlusion, myocardial infarction, central retinal vein thrombosis arteriography, vascular reconstruction angiography, etc.
Evening primrose contains lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, caprylic acid and other components. The oil pressed and extracted from its seeds is called evening primrose oil. Its main components are oleic acid, linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, etc. Gamma-linolenic acid is an advanced unsaturated fatty acid essential to the human body. The flowers contain volatile oil and terpenoid components. The leaves and stems are rich in vitamin C, various flavonoid glycosides, alkaloids and 1%-17% tannic acid.
The oil content of seeds of different species ranges from 15% to 25%. In addition to palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and stearic acid, the oil contains 7%-10% gamma-linolenic acid. Therefore, evening primrose oil has very obvious functional characteristics. Evening primrose oil and its finished products have broad medical and medicinal value in treating hypertension, preventing cerebral thrombosis, lowering lipids, lowering blood sugar, and anti-aging.
Plant efficacy: inhibiting atherosclerosis
Regarding thrombosis, gamma-linolenic acid also has a mitigating effect. In addition to reducing the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it also inhibits the formation of atherosclerosis, protects ischemic myocardium, reduces the area of necrosis, and maintains the normal function of platelets. Because gamma-linolenic acid also has
an obvious anti-lipid peroxidation effect, it is of great significance for protecting human health and delaying human aging. In recent years, the medical community has been very active in clinical research on gamma-linolenic acid, and has also found that gamma-linolenic acid has good improvement effects on obesity, schizophrenia, premenstrual syndrome, cyclical breast pain, and various inflammations (rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, nephritis, etc.), which indicates that gamma-linolenic acid has broader medicinal prospects. Generally, we obtain linoleic acid mostly from food, and through the action of enzymes in the body and a series of biosynthetic processes, it is converted into gamma-linolenic acid to maintain the normal operation of bodily functions. When the human body ingests excessive saturated fatty acids or experiences other metabolic disorders, the conversion of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid is affected, thereby affecting the normal operation of functions and leading to the occurrence of various diseases. Therefore, if gamma-linolenic acid can be supplemented in time, it can promote normal metabolism of bodily functions, thereby reducing the occurrence of diseases.
Has an anti-inflammatory effect
GLA, through physiological and biochemical reactions in the human body, generates an endogenous substance--prostaglandin E1. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) can replace the physiological role of PGE2 originally produced normally in the body. However, PGE1 has a stronger smooth muscle relaxing effect than PGE2. Therefore, it is speculated to help relieve asthma symptoms and lower blood pressure. Although many clinical trials at general doses cannot support this claim, it has been proven effective for atopic eczema caused by endogenous inflammatory factors and prostaglandins.
A study conducted by a group of Swiss biochemists led by Biagi, targeting a group of children with atopic dermatitis caused by immunodeficiency due to abnormal IgE immunoglobulin values, treated them with evening primrose oil. The results proved that GLA can effectively increase the concentration in the body of a precursor of an anti-inflammatory endogenous substance--dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA). In the group taking a high concentration of evening primrose oil, significant improvement in symptoms was even more evident.
Through a series of clinical trials, the anti-inflammatory and relieving effects of evening primrose oil have been proven. Biochemists began trying to apply evening primrose oil to inflammatory symptoms caused by autoimmune reactions such as multiple spondylitis and lupus erythematosus, and the results were likewise satisfactory.
However, it is worth noting that deep-sea fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid) also has this effect. Therefore, unless you are a vegetarian, for the relief of autoimmune inflammation, you might consider combining evening primrose oil with deep-sea fish oil.
Relieving premenstrual syndrome
When we find that a female friend who is usually lively, lovely and gentle suddenly becomes depressed and bad-tempered, the most intuitive guess of most people may be "Ah! It must be that time of the month." Most women, for almost half their lives, must spend five to ten days each month with their "good friend." However, because about two to three days before menstruation begins, due to hormonal changes, and because menstruation itself causes inflammation factors such as prostaglandin to rise due to the shedding and bleeding of the endometrium, the GLA contained in evening primrose oil can precisely inhibit the rise in the concentration of prostaglandins that cause inflammation, reducing the adverse reactions of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
There was once a clinical trial using evening primrose oil to treat severe breast swelling and pain caused by premenstrual syndrome, and the results proved that the effect of evening primrose oil is similar to the relieving effect of traditionally taking oral hormone preparations to treat breast swelling and pain.
Among women aged 15 to 50, about more than 50% are PMS sufferers. By supplementing essential fatty acids with evening primrose and synthesizing EFAs to balance the body's internal secretion, this theoretical basis has already supported the experimental models of many research institutions in Europe and the United States. A PMS clinical researcher in Massachusetts, USA, once published this "method of improving PMS through nutrition, with a 70% success rate." Under multiple experimental controls, the common statistical result is: taking 1-2 capsules of 0.5 g evening primrose oil daily gives a 70% success rate in improving PMS; if eight capsules are taken a day, the improvement rate is as high as 83%.
Eczema and atopic dermatitis
We often say that people with atopic dermatitis have a "constitution" problem. Usually patients have skin problems of varying degrees, are prone to dry itching, and often have allergies for unknown reasons. In environments with drastic climate changes or extremes, the skin cannot provide the necessary protection, leaving patients with unbearable itching and pain. As for so-called "poor constitution," a common reason is that although the patient takes in enough essential fatty acids, the body lacks sufficient conversion mechanisms, so it still cannot synthesize necessary substances such as gamma-GLA. At this time, using evening primrose to directly supplement GLA becomes an excellent nutritional supplementation plan.
In experimental research, it was found that evening primrose has good results in both oral administration and skin application absorption. However, when dealing with eczema, evening primrose oil must be applied to healthy areas to be absorbed; if applied to the affected area, it has the opposite effect.
Preventing osteoporosis
Another problem women face is osteoporosis, so how to reduce calcium loss has become an important issue. According to an experiment with rats as subjects, a group of rats fed evening primrose oil for four weeks had significantly lower calcium content in their urine, and for rats with hypercalciuria, preventing calcium loss is even more meaningful.
This experiment also supports that taking evening primrose oil can reduce calcium loss and has the effect of preventing osteoporosis. Because evening primrose oil has various benefits for women's physiological health, in the health food market, evening primrose oil should be a priority choice for female friends.
Reducing the incidence of thrombosis
Evening primrose oil, like deep-sea fish oil, belongs to extremely polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. During metabolism in the body, it replaces the inflammatory endogenous factors produced in the body by arachidonic acid, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thrombosane X2, which triggers coagulation reactions. Therefore, in addition to its anti-inflammatory effect, evening primrose oil also has the effect of reducing coagulation reactions and preventing thrombosis.
In addition, biochemist Fan published in the 1995 Journal of Arterial Vascular Biomedicine that GLA can reduce the proliferation of giant cells and smooth muscle cells, while also reducing the incidence of arterial sclerosis.
Reducing the incidence of diabetes
In addition to its preventive and therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases commonly suffered by the elderly, evening primrose oil is also very useful for another age-related disease--diabetes. Nerve atrophy lesions are a common side effect in diabetic patients, and scientists have also found that evening primrose oil has the effect of protecting nerve cells and reducing the incidence of lesions.
British biochemist Grant and others fed a group of rats with gestational diabetes evening primrose oil and found that the baby rats born had more normal body weight and health status than rats that did not receive evening primrose oil. They further found that evening primrose oil can reduce the incidence of diabetes. Although this was not an experiment with humans as subjects, using evening primrose oil as maintenance for chronic diseases is actually a good choice!
Good news for allergic constitutions
Among the components of evening primrose, another component listed as a focus of medical research is prostaglandin. In 1930, a Swiss scientist discovered this substance in semen and named it "prostaglandin." Later it was discovered that prostaglandins are universally present in the human body and have many different combinations, exerting different synergistic effects in the human body.
One example can show what kind of magical influence evening primrose exerts here: the medical community likes to use steroids as a formula for anti-inflammation and tissue antiallergy. Steroids indeed achieve this effect quickly, but steroids not only have major side effects, but also, for the human body, steroids simultaneously inhibit "inflammatory prostaglandins" and "anti-inflammatory prostaglandins." The characteristic of evening primrose is that it can synthesize and increase "anti-inflammatory prostaglandins" but inhibit "inflammatory prostaglandins." This unique biological activity makes evening primrose a more "intelligent" formula strategy and also greatly reduces the possibility of side effects. This explains why evening primrose may be great news for patients with allergic constitutions.
Anti-cancer effects under study
When it comes to cancer, most people may classify it as a major killer that ends human life, and post-treatment is always less meaningful than prevention beforehand. Therefore, no matter what kind of health food, most will "find a way" to connect with "anti-cancer." The anti-cancer effect of evening primrose oil actually remains at the research stage using rats as samples, and its anti-cancer principle is that evening primrose oil has a "reducing" effect on the lipid peroxidation reaction in the fat cells of rats, because peroxidation reactions generate free radicals, which in turn cause cell degeneration and trigger cancerous changes.
Therefore, evening primrose oil is considered to have an anti-tumor effect. In addition, scientists have also found that GLA can hinder the fusion reaction between normal vascular endothelial cells and tumor endothelial cells, thereby also slowing the development of cancerous lesions.
Dosage adjusted according to need
Evening primrose oil mainly comes from evening primrose seeds through low-temperature pressing. Natural evening primrose oil is pale yellow (darker color may mean it was not extracted at low temperature or has already deteriorated), and contains about 90% unsaturated fatty acids, of which the most abundant is about 70% linoleic acid (Linoleic Acid, abbreviated LA) and about 7 to 10% GLA. Since both LA and GLA are extremely unsaturated fatty acids (containing more double bonds), the stability of the oil is relatively low, and it easily reacts with air and oxidizes and deteriorates. Therefore, evening primrose oil on the market mostly has vitamin E added as an antioxidant to stabilize quality.
The most common evening primrose oil on the market is in soft capsule form at about 500 mg per capsule. As for how much to take daily to be effective, it varies according to individual needs.
For general maintenance in the elderly and for chronic diseases, three to four 500 mg soft capsules can be taken daily. As for premenstrual syndrome in women: in 1981, St. Thomas Hospital in London conducted a clinical trial and found that when taking four 500 mg evening primrose oil capsules every morning and evening for two weeks before menstruation, 61% of PMS patients reported that their symptoms almost disappeared, while 25% of patients had partial improvement. At ordinary times, half the dose can be used as a maintenance dose.
For patients with diseases accompanied by inflammatory symptoms, such as autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases and arthritis, it can be taken together with deep-sea fish oil. For example, taking three to four deep-sea fish oil capsules each containing 1000 mg with 300 mg of EPA and DHA (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids), plus four to six 500 mg evening primrose oil capsules daily, such a maintenance effect should be more effective than using evening primrose oil alone.
Evening primrose and the skin
A lack of essential fatty acids can cause human skin to lose moisture, become dry and age... and other symptoms. German researchers once used an instrument that measures skin smoothness to study the effect of evening primrose oil on the skin, and found that whether taken orally or applied directly, evening primrose oil can make the subjects' skin smoother and more vibrant.
Such experiments further encouraged researchers to conduct deeper research and testing on various surface parts of the body such as nails, eye corners, and hair, and the results found that the applications of evening primrose oil are broad. This has led many well-known cosmeceutical companies to adopt evening primrose oil as an important and high-end ingredient in skincare products.
Evening primrose and hair
Evening primrose contains a large amount of "essential fatty acids." So-called "essential fatty acids" are substances that are very important to the human body but cannot be synthesized on its own and must be obtained from external sources. Their roles in the body include: providing energy, maintaining body temperature, and protecting tissues and organs. Most importantly, they are indispensable substances that make up the body's cells and tissues, and are also materials the human body uses to synthesize important prostaglandins and hormones. It can be imagined that if "essential fatty acids" are lacking, the human body will face: hair loss, wounds that are difficult to heal, serious effects on reproductive function, reduced immune function, and a greatly increased probability of the body being infected by viruses and bacteria. Steeping forget-me-not together with evening primrose and drinking it as tea can treat baldness and hair loss due to blood deficiency.
Most people naturally obtain "essential fatty acids" from foods such as milk and vegetable seed oils. However, in recent years, because of modern people's dietary sources and dietary habits, there is excessive intake of the "three highs" foods: "high cholesterol, high fat, high sugar." These foods are not only non-nutritious sources, but also hinder the body's absorption of normal "essential fatty acids." This is a real example of so-called "overnutrition" equaling "malnutrition."
Among the components of evening primrose, the main ones are 70% linoleic acid and 9% gamma-linolenic acid. These two are precisely the two main categories of "essential fatty acids," which also explains the theoretical basis for why evening primrose is so important to the human body.
Tips
1. Mix evening primrose oil with other carrier oils to blend essential oils (rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.), and massage onto the lower abdomen and skin. It can relieve menstrual pain, premenstrual lower abdominal swelling, and prevent dry skin.
2. Mixing evening primrose oil with chamomile and patchouli can be used for hives and atopic dermatitis and other conditions to improve allergies and relieve itching.
3. Mix evening primrose oil with birch and ginger essential oils and massage the joints to prevent arthritis and joint stiffness.
Under the guidance of professionals, oral evening primrose oil can improve premenstrual syndrome and eczema. It is recommended to use it together with antioxidant sources high in vitamin E, such as deep-sea fish oil and cranberry seed oil.
Drugs
Western medicine
[Category]: Lipid-regulating and anti-atherosclerotic drugs
[Indications] Used for hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and obesity, etc.
[Usage and dosage] Oral: 1.5-2.0 g once, twice a day.
[Precautions] A small number of patients have loose stools in the early stage of medication, individual patients have nausea and stomach discomfort, and occasionally liver area pain or lower limb edema.
[Specifications] Capsules: 0.3 g, 0.35 g, 0.5 g.
Traditional Chinese medicine
[Source] From "Guizhou Herbal Medicine"
[Nature and flavor] Sweet; bitter; warm in nature
[Mineral name] Oenothera biennis L.
[English name] root of Redsepal Eveningprimrose
[Medicinal material source] The root of evening primrose.
[Harvesting and storage] Dig out the root in autumn, remove the soil, and dry in the sun.
[Functions and indications] Dispel wind-dampness; strengthen sinews and bones. Mainly treats wind-cold-dampness impediment; soreness and weakness of sinews and bones.
[Usage and dosage] Internal use: decoct in soup, 5-15 g.
References
Oenothera stricta Ledeb. et Link ("striata"), Enum Pl. Hort. Berol. 1: 377. 1821, et Mem. Acad. St.-Petersb. 8: Pl. 12. 1822; Munz, N. Amer. Fl. Aer. 2, 5: 110. 1965; Raven in Tutin & Heywood, Fl. Europ 2: 308. 1968; Dietrich in Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 64: 536, 538, figs. 4, 136, 220. 1977; Flora Yunnanica 4: 182. 1986; Hoch & Waglen in T. C. Huang, Fl. Taiwan ed. 2. 3: 965. 1993. --Oenothera odorata auct. non Jacq.: Iconographia Cormophytorum Sinicorum 2: 1018, fig. 3765. 1972; Flora Qinlingensis 1 (3): 356. 1981; Flora Jiangsuensis, Volume 2, 549, fig. 1633. 1982; Flora Hebeiensis 2: 225, fig. 1130. 1988; Flora Anhuiensis 3: 556, fig. 1593. 1988; Flora Guizhouensis 4: 282. 1989; Flora Fujianica 4: 139. 1989; Flora Zhejiangensis 4: 313, fig. 4-397. 1993; Flora Shandongensis, Volume 2, 781, fig. 670. 1997.
Identifying authenticity
The barcodes on imported health food labels differ from those on domestic products. Barcodes of products imported from the United States and Canada have 12 digits, while those of domestic products have 13 digits. For products imported from Europe, Australia and New Zealand, although the barcodes also have 13 digits, the first few numbers differ from domestic ones. Domestic health foods start with 69. In addition, you can look at the location where the product's expiration date is marked. The expiration date of a legitimate product is printed on the bottle label or the bottle body, not on the bottle cap or the outer packaging box.
Evening primrose propagation methods: site selection and land preparation
Choose loose, well-drained land, deep plow, sun-dry for 15-20 days, then break up the soil and rake it level, and make beds 1.5 m wide. Before deep plowing, apply pen manure or stable manure, cake fertilizer, etc. as base fertilizer, then sow seeds or transplant seedlings for planting.
Seed propagation
Propagate by seeds. Sow in spring in the north; in areas south of the Huai River, sow seeds or raise seedlings in autumn or spring. When sowing, the soil should be raked fine and level, the seeds scattered on the bed surface, lightly raked once with a rake, and covered with a thin layer of soil. The seeds are small, so the soil must not be too thick, otherwise it will affect seed germination and growth. After sowing, the soil must be kept moist. About 10-15 days after sowing, the seeds will germinate and produce seedlings.
(1) Sowing: Autumn sowing is often carried out after mid-to-late September: disinfect the substrate used for sowing. The best method is to put it in a pot and heat it by stir-frying; any pests and diseases will be killed by the heat. Soak the seeds in warm water (temperature similar to face-washing water) for 3-10 hours, until the seeds absorb water and swell. For very common seeds that germinate easily, this step can be skipped. For tiny seeds that are difficult to pick up with hands or other tools, moisten one end of a toothpick with water, stick the seeds one by one onto the surface of the substrate, cover with substrate 1 cm thick, then place the sowing pot into water with a depth of 1/2-2/3 of the pot height, and let the water slowly soak upward. For larger seeds that can be picked up with hands or other tools, place the seeds directly into the substrate and sow them in spots at a spacing of 3 x 3 cm. After sowing, cover with substrate to a thickness 2-3 times that of the seeds. After sowing, use a sprayer or a fine-holed watering can to moisten the sowing substrate. Later, when the potting soil is slightly dry, water again, still taking care not to water too forcefully, so as not to wash the seeds up; Management after sowing: after autumn sowing, when cold waves and low temperatures occur, the flower pot can be wrapped in plastic film to help keep warm and moist; after the seedlings emerge, promptly uncover the film, and let the seedlings receive sunlight before 9:30 every morning, or after 3:30 in the afternoon, otherwise the seedlings will grow very weak; after most of the seeds have sprouted, appropriate thinning is needed: pull out diseased and unhealthy seedlings so that the remaining seedlings have a certain amount of space from each other; when most of the seedlings have grown 3 or more leaves, they can be transplanted into pots.
(2) Cutting propagation: The branches used for cuttings are called cuttings. Usually combined with pinching work, the thick, pest-free and disease-free top shoots that are pinched off are used as cuttings, and the top shoots are used directly for cuttings. After cutting, the following management points should be noted:
Temperature: The optimum temperature for cutting rooting is 18°C-25°C. Below 18°C, cuttings root with difficulty and slowly; above 25°C, the cut end of the cutting is easily infected by pathogens and rots, and the higher the temperature, the greater the proportion of rot. When low temperatures occur after cutting, the main measure for keeping warm is to wrap the flower pot or container used for cuttings with film; when the temperature is too high after cutting, the main cooling measure is to shade the cuttings, blocking out 50-80% of sunlight, and at the same time spray the cuttings 3-5 times a day. On sunny days with higher temperatures, spray more often; on cloudy and rainy days with lower temperatures and higher humidity, spray less or not at all.
Humidity: After cutting, the relative humidity of the air must be maintained at 75-85%. Humidity can be increased by spraying the cuttings 1-3 times a day. On sunny days, the higher the temperature, the more frequently you spray; on cloudy and rainy days, the lower the temperature, the less frequently you spray or not at all. However, excessive spraying can easily cause the cuttings to be infected by pathogens and rot, because many kinds of pathogens exist in water.
Light: Cutting propagation cannot do without sunlight, but the stronger the light, the higher the temperature inside the cuttings, the more vigorous the transpiration of the cuttings, and the more water consumed, which is not conducive to the survival of the cuttings. Therefore, after cutting, 50-80% of sunlight must be blocked. After the root system grows, gradually remove the shade net: on sunny days, remove the shade net at 4:00 every afternoon, and cover it again before 9:00 the next morning.
(3) Transplanting: When potting young seedlings, first place coarse-grained substrate or ceramsite 2-3 cm thick at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with another layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the root system and avoid burning the roots. For the potting substrate, one of the following can be chosen. Vegetable garden soil: furnace slag = 3:1; or garden soil: medium-coarse river sand: sawdust (mushroom residue) = 4:1:2; or one of paddy soil, pond mud, and leaf mold. Or peat + perlite + ceramsite = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; vegetable garden soil + furnace slag = 3 parts + 1 part; peat + furnace slag + ceramsite = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; sawdust + vermiculite + medium-coarse river sand = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part. After potting, water once thoroughly, and place in a slightly shady environment for one week of maintenance. When transplanting young seedlings, first dig the planting hole, sprinkle a layer of organic fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole as bottom fertilizer (base fertilizer), about 4-6 cm thick, then cover with a layer of soil and place the seedling in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the root system and avoid burning the roots. After placing the seedling in, backfill the soil, cover the root system, and press the soil firm with your foot, then water once thoroughly.
Cultivation techniques for evening primrose
Evening primrose performs best when cultivated in courtyards in ventilated, open, bright places, in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil. It can also be grown in pots on balconies for viewing. Under the moonlight of a quiet night, waves of delicate fragrance make one feel refreshed. Evening primrose has strong self-seeding ability. After one planting, its self-sown seedlings can grow on their own every year and bloom continuously.
1. Requirements for environmental conditions: strong adaptability, acid-tolerant and drought-tolerant, not strict about soil. It can generally grow in neutral, slightly alkaline or slightly acidic soil, and in well-drained, loose soil. If the soil is too wet, the roots are prone to disease. In the north it is an annual plant, and south of the Huai River it is a biennial plant.
2. Site selection and land preparation: Choose loose, well-drained land, deep plow, sun-dry for 15-20 days, then break up the soil and rake it level, and make beds 1.5 m wide. Before deep plowing, apply pen manure or stable manure, cake fertilizer, etc. as base fertilizer, then sow seeds or transplant seedlings for planting.
3. Propagation: Propagate by seeds. Sow in spring in the north; in areas south of the Huai River, sow seeds or raise seedlings in autumn or spring. When sowing, the soil should be raked fine and level, the seeds scattered on the bed surface, lightly raked once with a rake, and covered with a thin layer of soil. The seeds are small, so the soil must not be too thick, otherwise it will affect seed germination and growth. After sowing, the soil must be kept moist. About 10-15 days after sowing, the seeds will germinate and produce seedlings.
4. Field management: Before the second pair of true leaves expands, the seedlings are very similar to weed seedlings, so cultivation and weeding cannot be carried out; this can only be done after the second pair of true leaves has expanded. When they grow into rosette-shaped seedlings, thin them to establish a set stand or transplant them. The plant-to-row spacing is 65 cm x 65 cm. When the plant reaches 30 cm in height, earth up around the plant to prevent lodging due to height. After transplanting or establishing the stand, apply manure or urea once to promote seedling growth, and apply fertilizer a second time at the early bud stage to facilitate flowering and seed setting.
5. Harvesting and processing: Evening primrose has an indeterminate inflorescence, and the fruits mature successively. Generally, when half of the inflorescence has matured, it can be harvested. When harvesting, use pruning shears or a knife to cut off the inflorescence, or pull up the whole plant, dry it in the sun, press it with a roller or beat it with a stick, remove all fruit shells and impurities, and store in a dry, cool place.
Key management points
Evening primrose is easy to cultivate and simple to manage. In general cultivation management, the following points should be noted:
1. Transplanting and planting out. After sowing and emergence, carry out one transplanting, and when the true leaves grow to 4-5, carry out planting out.
2. Pinching to promote branching. After the plants survive planting out, carry out one pinching to promote branching and dwarf the plant, and produce more flowers.
3. Fertilizer and water management. During the growth period, apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month. During the growing period, mainly use nitrogen fertilizer; during the bud stage, mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. For watering, follow the principle of watering when the soil is dry. After each fertilization and watering, carry out timely cultivation and weeding to help preserve soil moisture and improve aeration, promoting robust plant growth.
Disease control of evening primrose
Rot disease: After infection, the plant's roots gradually discolor and rot, the leaves wilt and dry up, and eventually the whole plant dies. Control methods: use 1% lime water, or 50% thiophanate 1500-fold solution, or 75% chlorothalonil 1000-fold solution for irrigation.
Leaf spot disease. Symptoms: It mainly damages leaves. The lesions on the leaves are round, light brown, 2-3 mm in diameter, with purplish-red edges and brown centers, densely covered with small black dots, which are the pathogen's pycnidia. When the disease is severe, the leaves wither and die.
Pathogen and occurrence patterns: The pathogen is Septoria oenotherae Westd., belonging to the Deuteromycotina, genus Septoria. The fungus overwinters as pycnidia and mycelium in diseased plant debris. In the following spring, the pycnidia absorb water and release conidia for primary infection. Field transmission of the disease mainly relies on rain splash and airflow, while seed-borne inoculum causes long-distance spread. High temperature and high humidity, along with continuous rainy weather, favor disease development. Poor cultivation management and weak plant growth make plants more susceptible. The peak disease period is during the high-temperature, rainy season from July to August.
Control methods: (1) In autumn, thoroughly remove diseased and dead leaves from the field, burn them in a centralized manner or bury them deeply, to reduce the amount of overwintering inoculum in the field. (2) Before sowing, soak seeds in a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim or 50% mancozeb for 30 minutes, then air-dry before sowing. (3) In the early stage of disease, spray once with a 500-fold dilution of 50% mancozeb or a 600-fold dilution of 50% Wanmeiling, at an interval of 10 to 15 days.
The flower language of evening primrose
The flower language of evening primrose is: silent love, an unbridled heart.
Evening primrose pictures
Telosma cordata (Burm. F.) Merr. - Telosma cordata profile: how to grow Telosma cordata / how to propagate Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata profileTelosma cordata (Burm. F.) Merr.
Cultivation methods and precautions for Telosma cordata - Introduction to Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata is a vine-like shrub with weak, hairy branchlets and milky sap. The flowers are mostly yellow-green and have a fresh fragrance, which is even stronger at night, hence the names "Telosma cordata" and "night fragrant flower." It is mostly grown as a potted ornamental plant, but it is not suitable for placement indoors. Its floral fragrance can make breathing difficult. The leaves are opposite and ovate-cordate. It blooms in summer and autumn; the corolla is salver-shaped, yellow-green, strongly fragrant, and especially so at night, hence the name. It is distributed in tropical Asia and is commonly cultivated in East China and South China. Besides being ornamental, the flowers can be used to make tea and can also be used in dishes; the roots and flowers are used medicinally and can calm the liver and improve eyesight.
Telosma cordata belongs to the genus Telosma in the Solanaceae family. Native to South America, it is an evergreen shrub, also known by aliases such as evening primrose and night fragrant flower. It is a perennial vine-like twining herb, distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Taiwan, China, and other places. It is a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds.
Besides being ornamental, the flowers of Telosma cordata can be used in dishes and as medicine. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions. Whenever summer and autumn come, clusters of yellow-green bell-shaped small flowers bloom in the leaf axils, and when the moon rises above the treetops, it sends out waves of delicate fragrance. This fragrance, however, frightens mosquitoes and is an excellent mosquito repellent.
Morphological characteristics of Telosma cordata
The leaves of Telosma cordata are opposite; the leaf blades are broadly ovate, cordate to oblong-ovate, 4 to 9.5 cm long and 3 to 8 cm wide, with a short acuminate apex, a deeply cordate base, and entire margins. There are 7 to 9 palmate veins arising from the base, and there are hairs on the margins and veins.
The umbel-like cyme is axillary and may have as many as 30 flowers; the corolla lobes are oblong, yellow-green, and have a fresh fragrance, which is even stronger at night.
The corona has 5 lobes, is fleshy, shorter than the anthers, inserted on the gynostegium, with an acuminate apex; there is 1 pollinium per locule, elliptical, and erect.
The follicle is lanceolate, 7.5 cm long, with a thick exocarp and no hairs. The seeds are broadly ovate, about 8 mm long, with white silky seed hairs at the apex.
Ecological habits of Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata mostly grows in woodlands or shrub thickets.
It prefers a warm, humid, sunny, well-ventilated environment with loose, fertile soil. It is drought-tolerant and barren-tolerant, but not waterlogging-tolerant and not cold-tolerant. After leaf fall in winter, growth stops; after spring warms, branches and leaves grow, with axillary buds or flower buds at each node. As it grows, lateral branches continuously develop and inflorescences are produced. It generally blooms successively from May to October, and the flowers are fragrant when blooming, becoming even more strongly fragrant at night.
It fruits in winter.
Distribution range of Telosma cordata
Domestic distribution of Telosma cordata: South China
Overseas distribution of Telosma cordata: cultivated in tropical and subtropical Asia, as well as in Europe and the Americas.
Cultivation techniques for Telosma cordata
1、Preparing potting soil
Telosma cordata prefers loose, well-drained, organic-rich, slightly acidic soil. Its potting soil is generally made from 3 parts peat soil or leaf mold plus 2 parts coarse river mud and a small amount of farmyard manure. When potting, about 1/5 of the depth at the bottom is filled with granular crushed brick pieces to facilitate drainage, and the upper part is planted with the prepared potting soil.
2、Suitable environment
Potted Telosma cordata requires well-ventilated environmental conditions. From early May to the end of September, it is suitable to place it in a sunny part of the courtyard or on a balcony for care. Although it likes sufficient sunlight, direct exposure to scorching sun at noon in summer should be avoided.
3、Fertilization
During its growth process, liquid fertilizer should be applied once every 10 to 15 days. Starting in late April, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month. From mid-May onward, this can ensure continuous blooming. If high-efficiency humic acid liquid fertilizers such as Chunquan 883 or Huimanfeng can be applied, the effect will be even better.
4、Water regulation
Summer is its peak growth season. In addition to applying sufficient fertilizer, the potting soil must be kept constantly moist, and if necessary, water twice a day. If it is a seedling, spray water on the leaf surface 1 to 2 times a day.
5、Suitable temperature
In mid-to-late October each year, it should be moved into a shed or greenhouse, and the shed or greenhouse temperature should be maintained at 8°C to 12°C. If the temperature is lower than 5°C, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off until the plant dies.
6、Repotting
Repotting should preferably be done in early April in spring before the plant is moved outdoors. When repotting, remove part of the old soil and old roots, replace with new culture soil, and carry out heavy pruning to promote new branch growth. After repotting, keep the potting soil moist, but there must be no standing water in the pot. If young leaves are found to droop slightly after repotting, water promptly.
7、Adjusting plant shape
During cultivation and management, a trellis needs to be set up. After the plant climbs onto the trellis, pinch the tips promptly to encourage more branching. After the flowers bloom, promptly cut off the withered flower stalks and apply additional fertilizer. After the flowers fade, cut off dead and dry branches and leaves as well as overly dense branches, and shorten leggy shoots.
8、Pests and diseases
Diseases: Sooty mold and ring rot often occur. They can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.
Pests: Aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies often cause damage. They can be controlled with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate, Uranus, cypermethrin, Kuishaling, and others, with relatively good results.
9、Uses
Cultivated for ornamental purposes. Telosma cordata has slender branches and blooms in summer and autumn. The yellow-green flowers open in the evening and send out waves of strong, fragrant scent. In the south, it is often used to decorate courtyards, areas in front of windows, pond edges, and pavilion sides.
At the same time, it is also a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions.
Propagation methods of Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata mainly grows in jungles in subtropical and warm temperate regions. It likes a warm, humid, sunny, and dry climate environment. It has strong environmental adaptability, vigorous vitality, and a well-developed root system. It mainly grows in well-drained, fertile soil. It begins to bloom every spring, and the flowering period is very long. It has relatively high temperature requirements, with the average annual temperature controlled at around 20°C. Telosma cordata is a plant that likes fertilizer, so during its growth process it should be fertilized in small amounts and multiple times. Telosma cordata also has high water requirements. In hot summer, water more, and in winter keep the soil moist but be sure to avoid waterlogging.
The propagation methods of Telosma cordata mainly include cutting propagation, layering propagation, division propagation, and seed seedling raising, among which cutting propagation is the most commonly used. Cutting propagation can be carried out in any season except winter. Under a suitable warm and humid climate, it is best to cultivate it in fertile soil, preferably sandy loam, because Telosma cordata has strong vitality and new branches will gradually grow into a new seedling. Then move the new seedling into a flowerpot for care. Place the Telosma cordata bonsai in a sunny position near a window, and at night you will smell waves of delicate fragrance.
Cutting propagation
1. Selecting cuttings. Choose branches that grow robustly or are free of pests and diseases. On the same plant, choose current-year branches from the middle and upper parts that face the sun. The branches should have relatively short internodes, thick and strong branches and leaves, and plump buds. Do not use branches that are about to bloom or leggy branches.
2. Selecting the substrate. Use peat soil, leaf mold, and sand mixed in a ratio of 3:3:4 respectively. The bed soil prepared in this way has the characteristics of raising bed temperature, retaining water, providing aeration, being fertile, and being slightly acidic, and is suitable for branch rooting and sprouting.
3. Treating the cuttings. Before cutting, treat the cuttings with agents such as ABT rooting powder, which has the effect of promoting rooting. Cut the cuttings into sections 8 cm to 12 cm long, each with 2 to 3 buds. The lower cut should preferably be 0.5 cm below a node, and the cut should be smooth. Remove the lower leaves, leaving only 2 to 3 leaves at the top. The insertion depth is generally about 3 cm.
4. Creating conditions for rooting. The suitable rooting temperature is 20°C to 24°C. Generally, soil temperature 3°C to 5°C higher than air temperature is favorable for rooting. The relative air humidity of the cutting bed should be 80% to 90%, which is favorable for rooting, and light should be about 30%. Moisture should be appropriate: slightly more water in the early cutting stage and slightly drier later. The suitable period for open-field cuttings locally is from early May to mid-June. At this time the climate is relatively good and can better meet the temperature and humidity conditions required for cutting rooting.
5. Strengthening post-cutting management. After cutting, water thoroughly, cover with plastic film, and place in a relatively shady spot, or scatter loose grass on the film to prevent direct sunlight, and increase light at night to help the cuttings survive. Ventilate 1 to 2 times a day to replenish needed oxygen and prevent disease occurrence. Spray water frequently to keep the cutting bed moderately moist, but do not spray excessively; otherwise the cutting bed will be too wet, which often affects callus formation and rooting of the cuttings. When the new roots of the cuttings grow to 2 cm to 3 cm, they can be transplanted into pots at the appropriate time. After flowering, in winter in the Nanjing area, they should be moved indoors for care.
Cutting propagation
1. Selecting cuttings. Choose branches that grow robustly or are free of pests and diseases. On the same plant, choose current-year branches from the middle and upper parts that face the sun. The branches should have relatively short internodes, thick and strong branches and leaves, and plump buds. Do not use branches that are about to bloom or leggy Telosma cordata branches.
2. Selecting the substrate. Use peat soil, leaf mold, and sand mixed in a ratio of 3:3:4 respectively. The bed soil prepared in this way has the characteristics of raising bed temperature, retaining water, providing aeration, being fertile, and being slightly acidic, and is suitable for branch rooting and sprouting.
3. Treating the cuttings. Before cutting, treat the cuttings with agents such as ABT rooting powder, which has the effect of promoting rooting. Cut the cuttings into sections 8 cm to 12 cm long, each with 2 to 3 buds. The lower cut should preferably be 0.5 cm below a node, and the cut should be smooth. Remove the lower leaves, leaving only 2 to 3 leaves at the top. The insertion depth is generally about 3 cm.
4. Creating conditions for rooting. The suitable rooting temperature is 20°C to 24°C. Generally, soil temperature 3°C to 5°C higher than air temperature is favorable for rooting. The relative air humidity of the cutting bed should be 80% to 90%, which is favorable for rooting, and light should be about 30%. Moisture should be appropriate: slightly more water in the early cutting stage and slightly drier later. The suitable period for open-field cuttings locally is from early May to mid-June. At this time the climate is relatively good and can better meet the temperature and humidity conditions required for cutting rooting.
5. Strengthening post-cutting management. After cutting, water thoroughly, cover with plastic film, and place in a relatively shady spot, or scatter loose grass on the film to prevent direct sunlight, and increase light at night to help the cuttings survive. Ventilate 1 to 2 times a day to replenish needed oxygen and prevent disease occurrence. Spray water frequently to keep the cutting bed moderately moist, but do not spray excessively; otherwise the cutting bed will be too wet, which often affects callus formation and rooting of the cuttings. When the new roots of the cuttings grow to 2 cm to 3 cm, they can be transplanted into pots at the appropriate time. After flowering, in winter in the Nanjing area, they should be moved indoors for care.
Disease and pest control of Telosma cordata
Aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies often cause damage. They can be controlled with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate, Uranus, cypermethrin, Kuishaling, and others, with relatively good results.
Pest and disease control
The pests found damaging Telosma cordata mainly include mites and scale insects, and the disease includes fusarium wilt. For mite control, a 800-fold dilution of Kangman 23 emulsifiable concentrate, a 2000-fold dilution of 73% propargite, and others can be used. For scale insect control, a 600 to 800-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsion can be used. For fusarium wilt control, a 600 to 800-fold dilution of Kuwei Like, a 600-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim, and others can be used. If diseased plants with fusarium wilt are found, they should be removed promptly, taken outside the garden and burned, and the soil around the diseased plants should be turned over and sprinkled with quicklime, then replanted after 1 month.
Potted cultivation methods for Telosma cordata
1. Preparing potting soil. Telosma cordata prefers loose, well-drained, organic-rich, slightly acidic soil. Its potting soil is generally made from 3 parts peat soil or leaf mold plus 2 parts coarse river mud and a small amount of farmyard manure. When potting, about 1/5 of the depth at the bottom is filled with granular crushed brick pieces to facilitate drainage, and the upper part is planted with the prepared potting soil.
2. Suitable environment. Potted Telosma cordata requires well-ventilated environmental conditions. From early May to the end of September, it is suitable to place it in a sunny part of the courtyard or on a balcony for care. Although it likes sufficient sunlight, direct exposure to scorching sun at noon in summer should be avoided.
3. Fertilization. During its growth process, liquid fertilizer should be applied once every 10 to 15 days. Starting in late April, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month. From mid-May onward, this can ensure continuous blooming. If high-efficiency humic acid liquid fertilizers such as Chunquan 883 or Huimanfeng can be applied, the effect will be even better.
4. Water regulation. Summer is its peak growth season. In addition to applying sufficient fertilizer, the potting soil must be kept constantly moist, and if necessary, water twice a day. If it is a seedling, spray water on the leaf surface 1 to 2 times a day.
5. Suitable temperature. In mid-to-late October each year, it should be moved into a shed or greenhouse, and the shed or greenhouse temperature should be maintained at 8°C to 12°C. If the temperature is lower than 5°C, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off until the plant dies.
6. Repotting. Repotting should preferably be done in early April in spring before the plant is moved outdoors. When repotting, remove part of the old soil and old roots, replace with new culture soil, and carry out heavy pruning to promote new branch growth. After repotting, keep the potting soil moist, but there must be no standing water in the pot. If young leaves are found to droop slightly after repotting, water promptly.
7. Adjusting plant shape. During cultivation and management, a trellis needs to be set up. After the plant climbs onto the trellis, pinch the tips promptly to encourage more branching. After the flowers bloom, promptly cut off the withered flower stalks and apply additional fertilizer. After the flowers fade, cut off dead and dry branches and leaves as well as overly dense branches, and shorten leggy shoots.
8. Pests and diseases.
Diseases: Sooty mold and ring rot often occur. They can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.
Origin of the name Telosma cordata
Many plants rely on insects for pollination to reproduce. Plants that rely on insects active during the day for pollination bloom and release fragrance in daytime to welcome their messengers. Telosma cordata relies on moths that appear at night for pollination. In the dark night, it uses the strong fragrance it releases to lure winged "guests" to visit and carry pollen for it. This habit of Telosma cordata is an adaptation to its environment.
The petals of Telosma cordata differ in structure from those of flowers that generally bloom during the day. The stomata on the petals of Telosma cordata have a special characteristic: once air humidity is high, they open wide. When the stomata open wide, more aromatic oils evaporate. Although there is no sunlight at night, the air is much more humid than during the day, so the stomata open wide and the fragrance released is especially strong. If you pay attention, you can find that the flowers of Telosma cordata are more fragrant not only at night, but also on cloudy and rainy days than on sunny days, because of the higher air humidity on cloudy and rainy days.
Basic information about Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata is an alias for multiple plants. The more common ones are
1. An alias for Mirabilis jalapa, a plant in the genus Mirabilis of the Nyctaginaceae family
2. An alias for Cestrum nocturnum, a plant in the genus Cestrum of the Solanaceae family;
3. An alias for Polianthes tuberosa, a plant in the genus Polianthes of the Amaryllidaceae family
4. "Ye Shang Wan Zhuang," which contains the lyrics of Telosma cordata
5. An alias for Oenothera odorata, a plant in the genus Oenothera of the Onagraceae family.
[Flower language] Fantasy, dangerous pleasure
[Habitat and habits] Telosma cordata mostly grows in woodlands or shrub thickets.
Species in the same genus
Telosma cathayensis: the flowering period is every summer.
Telosma taiwaniana: flowering period in August, fruiting period in autumn and winter.
Telosma procumbens: flowering period in May, fruiting period in autumn.
Precautions for Telosma cordata: not suitable for indoor placement
Its fragrance can make patients with high blood pressure and heart disease feel dizzy, depressed, and uncomfortable, causing symptoms such as chest tightness and difficulty breathing, so Telosma cordata is not suitable for indoor placement. It is best placed outdoors as an ornamental plant.
The original home of Telosma cordata is tropical Asia, where daytime temperatures are high and flying insects rarely come out to activity. In the evening and at night, when the temperature drops, many flying insects come out to forage. At this time, Telosma cordata emits a strong fragrance to lure flying insects to come and spread pollen. Through the influence of environmental factors over generations, Telosma cordata has developed the habit of always releasing fragrance at night. If it is kept indoors for a long time, it can cause dizziness, coughing, and even asthma and insomnia.
Functions and uses of Telosma cordata
Cultivated for ornamental purposes. Telosma cordata has slender branches and blooms in summer and autumn. The yellow-green flowers open in the evening and send out waves of strong, fragrant scent. In the south, it is often used to decorate courtyards, areas in front of windows, pond edges, and pavilion sides. At the same time, it is also a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions.
It is also used as medicine. It is a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions.
Telosma cordata mainly grows in jungles in subtropical and warm temperate regions. It likes a warm, humid, sunny, and dry climate environment. It has strong environmental adaptability, vigorous vitality, and a well-developed root system. It mainly grows in well-drained, fertile soil. It begins to bloom every spring, and the flowering period is very long. It has relatively high temperature requirements, with the average annual temperature controlled at around 20°C. Telosma cordata is a plant that likes fertilizer, so during its growth process it should be fertilized in small amounts and multiple times. Telosma cordata also has high water requirements. In hot summer, water more, and in winter keep the soil moist but be sure to avoid waterlogging.
Landscape uses of Telosma cordata: landscaping and ornamental
Telosma cordata has slender branches and blooms in summer and autumn. The yellow-green flowers open in the evening and send out waves of strong, fragrant scent. In the south, it is often used to decorate courtyards, areas in front of windows, pond edges, and pavilion sides.
Dietary therapy or medicinal value of Telosma cordata
The medical information and health dietary therapy information on Huahu Web is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. For any health problem, consult professional medical personnel, and for the treatment of any disease, follow a doctor's advice.
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Medicinal value
[Drug name] Telosma cordata
[Source] The leaves, flowers, and fruits of Telosma cordatum (Brum. f.) Merr., a plant in the genus Telosma of the Asclepiadaceae family, are used as medicine. Leaves can be collected at any time; flowers and fruits are collected during the flowering and fruiting periods respectively, and dried in the sun.
[Nature, flavor, and meridian tropism] Sweet, bland, neutral.
Functions and indications
Clears the liver, improves eyesight, removes opacities, draws out toxin, and promotes tissue regeneration.
Flowers, leaves, fruits: used for acute and chronic conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal opacities; conjunctivitis caused by measles.
Fresh leaves: for external use to treat ruptured sores, boils, and abscesses, and traumatic ulceration of the lower leg.
Other information
[Usage and dosage] Flowers and leaves 1 to 2 qian, decocted in water; or 1 fruit (cut open) decocted in water. Fresh leaves for external use: blanch an appropriate amount in boiling water and apply. (For traumatic ulceration of the lower leg, pound fresh leaves with pork fat and apply to the affected area.) Note: When photosynthesis stops at night, Telosma cordata releases a large amount of waste gas, which is extremely harmful to human health, so one should not linger in front of Telosma cordata flowers at night.
[Excerpt] "Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicines." Note: Telosma cordata is a plant harmful to human health, and it is best not to place it indoors. It can affect people's normal sleep.
[Application] Its unusual fragrance fills the nose, and the strong scent has a special mosquito-repelling effect. It can be placed on windowsills and balconies.
Edible value
At the same time, it is also a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions. It is a semi-wild vegetable grown for its fresh flowers and flower buds. It has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and can treat red, swollen, and painful eyes, measles affecting the eyes, corneal opacities, and other conditions.
Cultural background of Telosma cordata: why Telosma cordata is more fragrant at night
This odd habit of Telosma cordata was also gradually formed over many, many generations.
Many plants rely on insects for pollination to reproduce. Plants that rely on insects active during the day for pollination bloom and release fragrance in daytime to welcome their messengers. Telosma cordata relies on moths that appear at night for pollination. In the dark night, it uses the strong fragrance it releases to lure winged "guests" to visit and carry pollen for it. This habit of Telosma cordata is an adaptation to its environment.
The petals of Telosma cordata differ in structure from those of flowers that generally bloom during the day. The stomata on the petals of Telosma cordata have a special characteristic: once air humidity is high, they open wide. When the stomata open wide, more aromatic oils evaporate. Although there is no sunlight at night, the air is much more humid than during the day, so the stomata open wide and the fragrance released is especially strong. If you pay attention, you can find that the flowers of Telosma cordata are more fragrant not only at night, but also on cloudy and rainy days than on sunny days, because of the higher air humidity on cloudy and rainy days.
The Fragrance of the Night-Blooming Cereus Is Toxic
Most plants people are familiar with bloom during the day and release their fragrance once they open. The night-blooming cereus (Telosma cordata) is not like this: only at night does it give off its rich fragrance. Why is that? This quirky habit of the night-blooming cereus also gradually took shape over countless generations, over a very, very long time.
Many plants rely on insects for pollination to reproduce their offspring. Plants that rely on insects active during the day to pollinate them bloom and spread fragrance in the daytime, waiting to welcome their messengers. The night-blooming cereus relies on moths that appear at night to pollinate it; in the darkness, it uses the intense fragrance it gives off to lure its winged "guests" to come visiting and carry pollen for it. This habit of the night-blooming cereus is a kind of adaptation to its environment.
The petals of the night-blooming cereus differ in structure from those of flowers that generally bloom during the day. The stomata on the petals of the night-blooming cereus have a special characteristic: once the air humidity is high, they open wide, and when the stomata open wide, more aromatic oils evaporate. Although there is no sunlight at night, the air is much more humid than during the day, so the stomata open wide and the fragrance released is especially strong. If you pay attention, you will notice that the flowers of the night-blooming cereus are more fragrant not only at night but also on cloudy and rainy days than on clear days, because of the high air humidity on cloudy and rainy days. The night-blooming cereus originated in the tropical regions of Asia, where daytime temperatures are high and flying insects rarely come out to activity; by evening and night, when temperatures drop, many flying insects come out to forage, and at this time the night-blooming cereus emits a strong fragrance to lure the flying insects to come and spread its pollen. Through the influence of environmental factors over countless generations, the night-blooming cereus has formed the habit of always releasing its fragrance at night. If it is kept indoors for a long time, it can cause dizziness, coughing, and even asthma and insomnia. Therefore, if you place the night-blooming cereus indoors during the day, you should move it outdoors in the evening.
The Flower Language of the Night-Blooming Cereus
The flower language of the night-blooming cereus: gentle and serene happiness, wandering among the stamens.
Only for waiting, for a first love who traveled far and has not returned, petals that bloom at night, slowly opening to life. At that moment, the breeze gently caresses, and its splendor sways faintly. As if murmuring to loneliness, and as if full of hope. Gentle and serene happiness, wandering among the stamens. A delicate fragrance fills the air, revealing unyielding spirit amid sorrow. Only for waiting, for a first love who traveled far and has not returned. In the night wind I miss you so, so much, entrusting the bright moon to send you a piece of my longing. And so, shyly raising my head, the feelings of yearning drift far away, my heart thrown into confusion by the sound of your distant footsteps. In my eagerness I instruct the wind, you must, you must, fly to your ear, if only you could understand my silent call. Quietly standing alone in a forgotten corner, scattering specks of fragrance. Not caring about others' admiration, I only hope that your soul, longing to return, will dance lightly night after night on the tips of my tender petals. This unique moment is our eternal attachment. The dewdrops in the stamens are my tears. Amid bitterness they are full of deep feeling. Their crystal clarity, their dazzling brightness, bloom in this life only for you! Across the vast wilderness, a few barks of dogs, how could they understand the flower's language. I cannot understand the joys and sorrows of the wild insects. It is almost dawn!! When I once again pick up the longing scattered all over the ground, with a touch of gloom, it is time to leave. I can only let the lonely fragrance drift away silently. Desperately clutching the cold wind, telling of a powerless, pale weariness. Yet all that remains is a cold heart and fading fragrance. Unable to bear the cold of the night, my heart trembles for you.
Night-Blooming Cereus Pictures