DICOTYLEDONS. 159 



3. L. ALTERNiFOLiA L. Rattle-box. Stem erect, much 

 branched, smooth or pubescent, 2-3 ft. high ; leaves alternate, short- 

 petioled, lanceolate or elliptical, acute ; flowers axillary, or the upper 

 ones somewhat racemed, on short 2-bracted peduncles ; calyx lobes 

 ovate, acute, spreading, deciduous, about as long as the obovate, 

 yellow, caducous petals ; capsule smooth, cubical, angles slightly 

 winged. June-SeptemV)er. In swamps. 



II. JUSSIiEA. 



Perennial herbs ; stems erect or creeping, smooth ; leaves 

 alternate, petioled or sessile ; flowers solitary, axillary, white 

 or yellow ; calyx tube not prolonged beyond the ovary, the 

 limb 4-6-lobed, persistent ; petals 4-6 ; stamens 8-12, in 2 

 rows, inserted with the petals ; stigma 4-6-lobed ; capsule 

 elongated, angled, 4-6-celled, many-seeded. 



J. DECUREENs (Walt.) DC. Upright Jussi^a. Stem erect, 

 smooth, angled, branched above, 1-3 ft. high ; leaves alternate, 

 lanceolate, entire, smooth, acute at the apex, sessile and decurrent on 

 the stem; flowers nearly sessile; calyx lobes 4, lanceolate, acuminate;- 

 petals 4, yellow, obovate, a little longer than the calyx lobes; sta- 

 mens 8; capsule oblong-clavate, 4-angled, many-seeded. June- 

 September. On wet soil. 



III. ONAGRA. 



Annual or biennial herbs ; stems erect ; leaves alternate, 

 toothed, sessile or short-petioled ; flowers in terminal, leafy 

 sj)ikes, yellow, nocturnal ; calyx tube prolonged beyond the 

 ovary, the lobes narrow, becoming retlexed and deciduous ; 

 petals 4 ; stamens S, ofjual in leni^tli ; style elongated, stigma 

 4-parted ; capsule 4-celled, 4-angled, many-seeded. 



O. niEXNis (L.) Scop. EvENixG Primrose. Biennial, or some- 

 times annual; stem stout, erect, branched above, liirsute or nearly 

 smooth, 2-G ft. high; leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute at the apex, 

 sessile or narrowed into a p<'tiole below, wavy-<lenticulate, smooth 

 or pubescent ; flowers sessile, bright yellow or nearly white, opening 

 in the evening, l.\--* in. broad; calyx tube slender, 2-3 in. long; 

 petals obovate, refuse; capsule oblong, iiarroweil at both ends, rough, 

 hairy, obtu.sely 4-angled, ^'-1 in. long. rlune-October. Common on 

 dry soil. 



