EVKNING, Oil TR1;e PRniROSE. 17J 



The Evening' Primrose slums the day, 

 I'hjssoms only to the western star, 

 And loves its solitary ray. 



AVc liavc frequently stood over tliis plant to 

 watch the expansion of its flowers, the petals of 

 which are confined together by means of the calyx, 

 the ends of which meet over the corolla, and clasp 

 each other by a hook. As the corolla swells in its 

 confinement the segments of the calyx separate at 

 bottom, and discover the primrose corolla, which 

 appears to be gradually inflating with a gaseous 

 fluid, until it acquires sufficient expansive force to 

 burst the hooks of the calyx. When its petals are 

 thus freed, they expand instantaneously to a cup 

 shape, and in about half an hour after they pro- 

 gressively spread until they become quite flat : by 

 the morning the flowers become flaccid, so that the 

 impregnation must take place after sunset. 



The Great-flowered Evening Primrose, CEno- 

 thera Grandlflora, is also a native of North Ame- 

 rica, and was introduced to our gardens in the year 

 1778, by John Fothergill, M.D. This species pos- 

 sesses an agreeable fragrance, and hence it is more 

 esteemed than the Biennis. 



The Evening Primrose is made the emblem of 

 inconstancy, and is therefore seldom worn by the 

 fair, excepting by those gay belles who love to co- 

 quet with and teaze their smitten swains. 



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