Extracts of some species are used in folk medicine. Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Rosidae, Myrtales Onagraceae-The Evening Primrose Family Epilobium, Clarkia, Fuschia, Oenothera Cosmopolitan family prominant in western North America, with 17 genera and 675 species. Herbs, shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, stipulate or estipulate. Inflorescence of solitary axillary flowers, spikes, racemes or panicles.
Flowers perfect and regular.
Hypanthium present and adnate to the ovary. Fruit a capsule, achene, nut or berry. In North America most species are 4-merous with 8 stamens and an inferior ovary. Little economic importance. The subfamilies are segregated based on floral morphology.