WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 

 DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES (continued) 



Evening Primrose Family 



Epilobiaceae 



(Onagraceae) 

 Seedbox; Rattlebox 



Ludivigia alternifolia Linnaeus 



Plate I44b 



Stems erect or nearly erect, branching, i\ to 3 feet high, from a peren- 

 nial root which often bears small tubers; the stems smooth or minutely 

 pubescent and more or less angled. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or linear- 

 lanceolate, pointed at both ends, on very short petioles, i^ to 4 inches long. 

 Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves, each flower one-half to two-thirds 

 of an inch broad, on short stalks; the calyx tube short, rounded at the base 

 with four ovate, long-pointed lobes about as long as the four yellow petals 

 which fall away very easily when the plant is disturbed. Fruiting capsule 

 smooth and slightly wing-angled, about one-fourth of an inch high, opening 

 by an apical pore but finally also dehiscent; many seeded. 



In marshes, swamps and wet meadows, New Hampshire to Ontario, 

 Michigan and Kansas, south to Florida and Texas. Flowering from the 

 latter part of June to September. 



Fireweed; Great or Spiked Willow-herb 



Chamaenerion angiistifolium (Linnaeus) Scopoli 



Plate 1446 



Stems slender or rather stout, 2 to 7 feet high, from a perennial root, 

 smooth below, usually finely pubescent above. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, 

 finely toothed or entire, 2 to 7 inches long, one-third to i inch wide, the 

 upper ones smaller, all on very short petioles, long pointed at the apex, 



thin, the lateral veins joining one another in marginal loops. Flowers 



187 



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