Botanical Family · Myrtales

Onagraceae

Evening-Primrose Family

9 speciesOrder Myrtales8+ well-known plants

The Onagraceae family (Evening-Primrose Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Myrtales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 9 species across 3 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Ludwigia, Fuchsia and Oenothera. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Hardy Fuchsia, Water Primrose and Seedbox.

Browse all 9 species ↓

Representative specimen · Onagraceae

Key pattern

Opposite or alternate leaves on herbs; regular flowers typically show four petals above an inferior ovary topped by a distinctive X- or cross-shaped stigma, opening in the evening in several genera and ripening into a capsule.

Several species open their flowers only at dusk, releasing a strong fragrance to attract night-flying moth pollinators — the trait behind the common name evening primrose.

Identify the species

Which Onagraceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Onagraceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan

HabitWhat is the plant's growth form?

Aquatic-floating

Herb

Herb-erect

Shrub

Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?

White

Yellow

Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?

Pink

Yellow

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Onagraceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method