158 EVENING PRIMEOSE FAMILY 



EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY {Onagraceae 



(Epiloiiaceae) ) 



The seed-vessel is an important aid in recognizing 

 plants of this family. It is situated below the flower, and 

 in several genera attains noticeable size before the flower 

 opens. Because of this peculiarity certain species were 

 known in former days as "son-before-the-father/' the ex- 

 planation of the name being that "the long husks in which 

 the seed is contained do come forth and waxe great before 

 the floure openeth.'' 



The floral members in the majority are in sets of four, 

 i.e., four sepals, four petals, four or eight stamens, and a 

 somewhat four-sided capsule. The greater number of 

 Florida species bloom in yellow. 



The fuchsias, natives of Mexico and of South America, 

 are of this family. 



Primrose Willow. Primrose (Genus Jussiaea) 



One of our most beautiful primroses in the tall J. 

 peruviana, whose shrubby growth by river banks and bor- 

 ders of swamps in southern Florida is ornamented through 

 the greater part of the year with large yellow flowers, in 

 which the petals are so lightly attached that they fall 

 almost as soon as a flower is picked. 



Jussiaea peruviana. Flowers yellow, about 2 in. across, 

 from leaf-axils. Sepals 4, petals 4, stamens 8. Capsule 

 stout, nearly 1 in. long, 4-sided. Shrubby, 4-12 ft. tall, 

 hairy. Leaves alternate, oval or broadest at base, pointed, 

 1-4 in. long. River and swamp borders. Blooming all the 

 year. Fla. peninsula. 



Jussiaea scabra. Flowers 1 in. across. Capsule cylindric, 

 about 1 in. long. Plants 2-4 ft. tall, hairy. Leaves 1-2 in. 

 long. Damp places. Fla. 



