55 

 XLVII. ONAGRARLE. The Evening Primrose Tribe. 



Onagr-b, Juss. Gen. 317. (1789.)— Epii.obiace.s2, Vent. Tabl. 3. 307. (1799.)— Onagrarije, 

 Juss. Ann. Mus. 3. 315. (1S04) in part. ; Dec. Prodr. 3. 35. (1828); Lindl, Synops. 

 107. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells, with indefinite ovula, 4 

 divisions of the calyx, and roundish anthers erect in aestivation. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character.— Calyx superior, tubular, with the limb usually 4-lobed ; the lobes 

 cohering in various degrees, with a valvate aestivation. Petals generally equal in number to 

 the lobes of the calyx, into the throat of which they are inserted, regular, with a twisted 

 aestivation. Stamens definite, inserted into the calyx ; Jila men t.s distinct ; pollen triangular, 

 usually cohering by threads. Ovarium of several cells, generally crowned by a disk; 

 style filiform; stigma either capitate or 4-lobed. Fruit baccate or capsular, many-seeded, 

 with from 2 to 4 cells. Seeds numerous, without albumen ; embryo straight ; radicle long 

 and taper ; cotyledons very short. Herbaceous plants or shrubs. Leaves alternate or oppo- 

 site, simple, entire, or toothed. Flowers red, purple, white, blue, or yellow, axillary, or 

 terminal. 



Affinities. Onagrarise differ from all the orders allied to them in the 

 length of the radicle ; they are particularly distinguished from Salicariae by 

 their inferior calyx ; from Haloragese by their filiform style, and by their exal- 

 buminous seeds not being pendulous ; from Myrtaceae by the want of pellucid 

 dots, and by the definite number of their stamens. Dec. For the distinc- 

 tions between them and Hydrocaryes, Callitrichinea3, and Circreaceae, see 

 those orders. 



The following sections of Decandolle appear worthy of being adopted : 



1. MoNTINIEiE. 



Fruit capsular. Seeds with a membranous wing, imbricated, erect. — Trees 

 or shrubs, with alternate leaves. 



2. FUCHSIE.E. 



Fruit baccate. Tube of the calyx elongated beyond the ovarium. — Chiefly 

 American trees or shrubs, with opposite leaves. 



3. Onagre.e. 

 Fruit capsular, with many- seeded cells, and seeds without wings. Tube of 

 the calyx extended beyond the ovarium. Stamens twice as many as the 

 petals. — Herbaceous plants, sometimes slightly shrubby at the base. 



4. JussijE.e. 



Fruit capsular, with many-seeded cells. Calyx persistent, but not tubular. 

 — Herbaceous plants, rarely under-shrubs. 



Geography. Chiefly natives of the temperate parts of the world, and 

 especially of America : a good many are found in India, and a large number 

 in Europe. In Africa they are scarcer, being mostly confined to the Cape, 

 and to a few Jussireas inhabiting other parts of that continent. 



Properties. Few, or unknown. CEnothera biennis is cultivated for the 

 sake of its eatable roots ; and the leaves of Jussisea peruviana form an emol- 

 lient poultice. Dec. 



Examples CEnothera, Epilobium, Jussiaea, Fuchsia. 



