120 LYTHRACE.E. 



North America. Flowers in early summer, and continuously 

 till late autumn. 



(E. taraxacifolia {Dajidelioii-leaved Eve7img Primrose). — 

 This is a dwarf species, growing from 6 to 9 inches high, with 

 procumbent stems. The leaves are coarsely and irregularly 

 pinnatifid. The flowers are large, pure white, appearing in 

 summer and autamn. 



CE. speciosa {Beautiful Evejiing Frifurose). — This species 

 grows about 2 feet high, the stems clothed with lance-shaped 

 leaves, which, along with the stems, are somewhat downy. The 

 flowers are white, appearing in great profusion at the extremi- 

 ties of the stems from June till September. Native of North 

 America. 



Zauschneria califomica. — This, so far as I know, is "the 

 only representative of the genus either in nature or in cultiva- 

 tion. It grows about i or i ^ foot high, in neat graceful style. 

 The stems are clothed with narrow oval leaves, and both are 

 milky green. The flowers are produced on the axils of the 

 leaves on short stalks. They are bright red or crimson, and 

 appear in summer and autumn. The plant is easy to cultivate 

 in warm situations and rich light well-drained soil; but in cold 

 places and soils it is apt to perish from the combined effects 

 of cold and damp. Care should be taken, if the soil is not well 

 drained, to provide against stagnation at the roots, and this may 

 be done by putting a few stones beneath the plant and elevating 

 it somewhat above the general level a few inches ; and along 

 with these a covering of coal-ashes, or some such protection, 

 placed over the crowns, will keep the plants safe from harm. 

 Propagate by division in early spring, and by seed as described 

 for QLnothera in spring, on a hotbed, when the plants will bloom 

 the first season. Native of North America. 



LYTHRACE^. 



Although rich in splendid trees and shrubs from tropical and 

 temperate regions, this natural order includes very little that is 

 herbaceous, hardy, and ornamental. Some of the species of 

 Decodon and Nescea are known to cultivation as herbaceous 

 plants ; but they are of no ornamental value, and being limited 

 in species, it is probable that those already in gardens furnish a 

 fair standard whereby to judge of the merits of those not yet 

 introduced. Cuphea, a greenhouse genus of suffruticose plants 



