THE FLOWERING PLANTS 



OF 



GREAT BRITAIN 



Order XXVII. ONAGRARI^— WILLOW-HERB TRIBE. 



Calyx of 4, sometimes 2 lobes, which in the bud are attached to each 

 other by their edges ; calyx-tube more or less united to the ovary ; petals as 

 many as the lobes of the calyx, twisted while in bud, falling eai'ly ; stamens 

 4 or 8, rarely 2 ; ovary of 2 or 4 cells, often crowned by a disk ; style 

 slender ; stigma knobbed, or 4-lobed ; fruit a berry, or 4-celled capsule. 

 This order consists chiefly of herbaceous plants, rarely shrubs, found mostly 

 in the temperate parts of the world. None of the plants contain unwhole- 

 some properties, but they contribute little either to medicinal or domestic 

 purposes, though some of the species add largely to the beauty of our 

 gardens. Several of our most common and ornamental flowers are included 

 in it, as the Fuchsias, Clarkias, and Evening Primroses. 



1. Willow-herb {Epilohium). — Calyx 4-parted, the lobes not combined 

 after expansion ; petals 4 ; stamens 8, 4 long and 4 short ; capsule long, 

 4-sided, 4-celled, 4-valved ; seeds numerous, tufted with long down. Name 

 from the Greek e])i, upon, and lohos, a pod ; the flowers being placed at the 

 top of a seed vessel, shaped somewhat like a pod. 



2. Evening Primrose ((EiwtMra). — Calyx 4-parted, the lobes more or 

 less combined after expansion, and bent back ; stamens 8 ; capsule 4-celled, 

 4-valved ; seeds numerous, not bearded. Name in Greek signifying " catch- 

 ing the flavour of wine." 



3. IsNARDiA. — Calyx 4-parted ; petals 4, or none ; stamens 4 ; capsule in- 

 versely egg-shaped, 4-angled, 4-celled, 4-valved, crowned with the calyx. 

 Named after Antoine dlsnard, a French botanist. 



4. Enchanter's Nightshade {Circcm). — Calyx 2-parted ; petals 2 ; 

 stamens 2 ; capsule 2-cellcd, each cell containing a seed. Name from Circe, 

 the enchantress. 



1. Willow-herb {EpiUbium). 



* Petals unequal in size ; stamens lent down. 



1. Rose Bay, or Flowering Willow {E. angnstifdlium). — Leaves 

 scattered, lanceolate, veined, smooth ; flowers somewhat spiked. Plant 



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