396 



THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



leaves and larger oblong or bell-shaped flowers with bracts much shorter 

 than the pedicels: berries black and strong-smelling. Europe. 



R. floridum, L'Her. (R. americanum, Marsh.). Wild black currant. 

 Fig. 541. Straggling bush, with heart-shaped 3-5-lobed doubly serrate some- 

 what scented leaves: flowers in long racemes, whitish, with bracts longer 

 than the pedicels: fruit black, scented. Woods. 



R. aureum, Pursh. Golden, buffalo, or flowering currant. Fig. 542. 

 Large bush, with racemes of long-tubular yellow very 

 fragrant flowers : fruit blackish. Missouri, west, but com- 

 mon in gardens for its flowers. 



XXXI. ONAGRACE^E. EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY. 



Mostly herbs: leaves various, alternate or opposite, 

 without stipules: flowers perfect, usually 4-parted, with 

 calyx-tube joined to ovary and often prolonged, the 

 margin 4-lobed, lobes valvate in the bud, usually 

 reflexed in flower: petals 4 (2-9), on throat of calyx- 

 tube: stamens as many or twice as many as petals: style 1, slen- 

 der, the stigma 4-lobed (sometimes 2-lobed); ovary 2-4-celled. 

 More than 300 species and 40 genera, of wide distribution. 



A. Calyx-tube much prolonged beyond the ovary. 



B. Lobes generally reflexed: fruit a dry capsule, dehiscent.. 1. (Enothera 

 BB. Lobes large and spreading: calyx-tube highly colored: 



fruit a 4-celled berry: flowers drooping 2. Fuchsia 



AA. Calyx-tube not much prolonged. 



B. Stamens 8 ; petals 4 3. Epilobium 



BB. Stamens 2; petals 2 4. Circcea 



1. (ENOTHERA. EVENING PRIMROSE. 



Herbs, stems usually erect: leaves alternate: flowers brightly colored, 

 regular, axillary or in terminal spikes; calyx-tube prolonged beyond ovary, 

 the 4 lobes usually reflexed, sometimes soon falling; petals 4; 

 stamens 8; stigma 4-lobed; capsule usually narrow and long, 

 4-celled, many-seeded. 



(E. biennis, Linn. Common evening primrose. Figs. 276, 415. 

 Stem erect, 2-5 ft., hairy and leafy: leaves lance-oblong, 

 somewhat repandly-toothed ; flowers pure yellow, fragrant, in 

 terminal, leafy spikes, not remaining open in broad sunshine: 

 calyx-tube 2 to 3 times longer than ovary and lobes reflexed; 

 petals obcordate: pod oblong, bluntly 4-angled. A very com- 

 mon biennial of roadside and pasture, opening quickly at 

 542. Ribes nightfall, 

 aureum. (E. fruticdsa, Linn. Sundrops. Biennial or perennial : stem 



