32 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



September, and in this climate it may fail to ripen seed in an unfavorable 

 autumn. When well grown, it is a stately and showy species. (E. triloba, 

 of Nuttall, with its delicate white flowers, forming a cone of pods close to 

 the ground in autumn, was apparently introduced into the garden here by 

 Nuttall himself, from seed which he gathered in his Arkansas journey, and 

 has generally propagated itself as a biennial. It is hardly ornamental 

 enough for general cultivation. This, however, cannot be said of the per- 

 ennial (E. Missouriensis, or macrocarpa, which bears a succession of very 

 large yellow blossoms the whole summer long. But this species was intro- 

 duced to the English gardens, by seeds from Bradbury or Nuttall, more 

 than forty years ago. For some unexplained reason it never sets fruit here, 

 so it can be propagated only by division. It is a hardy perennial. A Texan 

 variety of the same species, with hoary leaves, longer stems, rather smaller 

 petals and pods with smaller wings, which we have cultivated for several 

 years, does fruit freely, and is also readily multiplied from slips. But it 

 will not stand the winter in the open air. (E. glauca, of the Alleghany 

 Mountains, being the finest of the day-flowering GEnotheras, a perfectly 

 hardy perennial, would claim a place in this list, only it was earlier culti- 

 vated in England, from Eraser's collections. 



12. Gaura Lindheimeri, Engelm. and Gray,— a Texan species, now- 

 well established in the gardens, and the most showy of the genus— we 

 owe to Mr. Lindheimer, who sent the seeds through Dr. Engelmann, about 

 fifteen years ago. Its perennial root is capable of surviving our ordinary 

 winters in the open ground ; but it is safer to house it. Turned out in 

 early summer it produces a constant succession of its neat white blossoms 

 until checked by severe frosts. 



13. Mentzelia or Bartonia ornata, a native of the Upper Missouri 

 River, and so well described in 1818 by Nuttall in his Genera, was raised 

 and figured in England as well as in Philadelphia, about forty years ago ; 

 but was soon lost. It was here reintroduced, five or six years ago, by 

 seeds collected by Col. Fremont, and flowered for two or three genera- 

 tions. It perished here during the past year; but other establishments, to 

 which we have supplied seed, may still have preserved it. Though difficult 

 to manage it deserves attention, as one of the most showy indigenous 

 plants. The pure white flowers open about an hour before sunset for two 

 or three days in succession ; they are very large, (the petals about three 

 inches in length,) spreading in an open bell-shaped form, and, with the 

 numerous long stamens, reecmbling those of a Cereus or other cactus. 

 The nearly related M. {Bartonia) nuda is very similar, except that the 

 flowers are only half as large. It was here raised for one or two seasons, 

 from^ seeds collected in Texas by Mr Lindheimer. M {Bartonia) laevi- 

 caulis, from the interior of Oregon, was here raised for a single season, 

 also, from seeds communicated by Col. Fremont. It differs from°the last in 

 having pale yellow blossoms, opening early in the afternoon, in full sun- 

 shine. We trust these three species will soon be recovered to our gardens, 

 for they are very ornamental, as well as botanically interesting. 



