Family: Onagraceae — evening-primrose family

Species in New England in the Onagraceae are annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. The leaves may be arranged alternately or opposite each other along the stem. Biennial species often overwinter as a basal rosette. The leaves are simple and may be entire, toothed, or lobed. Flowers usually contain both pollen-bearing and ovule-bearing parts. The flowers are solitary or arranged in various types of arrays and are usually actinomorphic (radially symmetrical). There are 4 sepals and 4 petals, all attaching above the ovary (i.e., the ovary is inferior). There are usually 4 or 8 stamens. The sepals, petals, and stamens are fused at or near the base to form a floral tube (a hypanthium). There is 1 style and 1 stigma, which may be branched or lobed into 4 segments. The fruit is a capsule; the seeds may have a tuft of hairs on one end.

This family’s genera in New England

• Camissonia
• Chamerion
• Circaea
• Clarkia
• Epilobium
• Ludwigia
• Oenothera

Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key

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