THE EVENING PRIMROSE. 



THE EVENING PRIMROSE {CEnothera biennis).— 



Inconstancy. 



This ornamental flower is a native of North America. It 

 is called the Evening Primrose because it opens its sulphur- 

 coloured petals from six to seven p.m. Their mode of opening 

 is remarkable. The petals are held together by hooks at 

 the end of the flower-cup, whose segments separate first at 

 the lower part, where the corolla may be seen for some time 

 before its expansive force is strong enough to unhook the 

 flower-cup at the top. When unhooked, the corolla opens 

 out instantaneously as it were ; it then halts, taking time to 

 spread out flat. The space of time occupied from the first 

 disclosure of the corolla at the bottom, to its full expansion, 

 is about half an hour. The corolla becomes flaccid during 

 the next day, more or less quickly, as the atmosphere is hot 

 and dry, or cold and moist. 



Bernard Barton has set this flower in poetry, — 



" Fair flower, that shunn'st the glare of day. 



Yet lov'st to open, meekly bold, 

 To evening hues of sober grey, 



Thy cup of paly gold ; 

 Be thine the offering, owing long, 



To thee, and to this pensive hour. 

 Of the brief tributary song. 



Though transient as thy flower." 



LThe quickly blooming and speedy fading of this flower makes 

 it a good emblem of Inconstancy. 

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