300 beeck's new book of flowers. 



(ENOTHERA. — Evening Primrose. 



[Name derived from the Greek for ivine and chase, on account, it is said, of 

 the roots of some species having been eaten as an incentive to wine.] 



" A tuft of Evening Primroses, 

 O'er which the wind may hover till it dozes ; 

 O'er which it well miglit take a pleasant sleep, 

 But it is ever startled by the leap 

 Of buds into ripe flowers." 



A large genus of which many sj^ecies nre indigenous to 

 America, and it inchides annuals, biennials, and peren- 

 nials. The flowers of some sjjecies open only towards 

 night, hence the name Evening Primrose ; while others 

 open in broad sunshine. In a strictly botanical classifica- 

 tion, the species mentioned under Godetia^ would come 

 here. All the species succeed in a light rich soil. 



(Enothera biennis. — Common Evening Primrose. — 

 This is a common plant, even a weed, everywhere in this 

 country. There are many varieties of it, dififering in the 

 size of the flowers, hairiness of the plant, etc. One of 

 these, under the name of (E. grandiflora^ is cultivated. 

 It grows about four feet high and has large yellow flow- 

 ers, which.open at night-fall. 



(E. MiSSOUri^nsiS. — Missouri Evening Primrose. — A 

 native of Missouri and Texas, with a large fleshy peren- 

 nial root, and prostrate spreading stems, which bear ash- 

 colored leaves and a succession of large yellow flowers, 

 Avhich are from four to six inches in diameter. The seed- 

 pod is large Avith broad wings, and tlie species is some- 

 times called CE. macrocarpa. 



(E. spcciosa. — Handsome Evening Primrose. — Has per- 

 ennial roots, with stems one and one-half foot high ; Avhite 

 and fragrant flowers, which turn rose color in fading. 



(E. nocturna. — Night-smelling Evening Primrose. — 

 An elegant half-hardy l)iennial from tlic Cape of Good 

 Hope. Flowers profusely tiie first season, and may be 



