130 LADY'S EARDROPS. 



twice longer than the stamens, with a capitate, (head-like ; 

 caput, head) stigma.* The pollen grains are angular and 

 loosely webbed together as in (Enothera. Crowning the 

 ovary within the calyx tube are 8 nectariferous glands. 



The Fruit is a red berry, full of minute seeds, but seldom 

 coming to maturity in this country. 



The Name. The genus Fuchsia was dedicated by Lin- 

 naeus to Leonard Fuchs, a celebrated German botanist of the 

 16th century. F. coccinia (Scarlet Fuchsia), with flowers 

 axillary, calyx bright red, from Chili, was the earliest known 

 species. Others, now common, are F. fulgens, with flowers 

 clustered, calyx tube longer than its lobes, which are often 

 tinged with green, and ovate, somewhat heart-shaped leaves ; 

 F. microphylla, with small elliptical leaves, calyx funnel- 

 shaped, and very sweet berries. But the species are much 

 mixed by hybridization.^ (Sot. and Flor., p. 127.) 



Classification. (Enothera and Fuchsia are members of 

 the Order OSTAGRACE^: the Onagrads. It will be seen that 

 they coincide in the following points : 



Leaves simple, pinni- veined. 



Flowers perfect, symmetrical, regular. 



Calyx tubular, its lobes valvate in aestivation. 



Petals perigynous, convolute in aestivation. 



Stamens perigynous, once or twice as many as the sepals. 



Ovary inferior (adherent), 2-4 celled, with 1 style. 



Seeds anatropous, without albumen. 



The Onagrads comprehend 22 genera, 450 species. They are 

 chiefly natives of temperate climes, and specially numerous in America. 

 They are of little importance to man, except for their beautiful and 



* The arrangement of these organs seems nicely planned in favor of self-fertiliza- 

 tion. But the falling pollen would seldom touch the stigmatic end of the stigma, 

 where alone it would be effectual. Moreover the copious nectar implies that the help 

 of some insect is still needed some long-tongued moth or humming bird, probably, 

 not found in this country. In New Zealand, a bird (Anthornis Melanura) is fre- 

 quently seen with its head covered with the pollen of a native species of Fuchsia. 



t Hybrids are artificially produced by transferring the pollen of one species to the 

 stigmas of another, and planting the seeds which result. 



