WILLOW-HEBB ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE. Ill 



three inches high, and not branched ; it bears only two flowers, 

 and its leaves are half as broad as long (E. alpinum). It 

 flourishes on a peat moor called " Summer Lodge-bank." The 

 young shoots of some of the Willow-herbs are cooked and 

 eaten, and in Kamschatka an intoxicating liquor is made from 

 them. Although the number Four is the leading characteristic 

 of this group, the Willow-herb family have eight stamens. 



There is but one British representative of the Evening 

 Primrose family ((Enothera biennis, Plate VIII. , Jig. 2). The 

 plant is tall, thick, and herbaceous, and bears large, beautiful, 

 lemon- coloured flowers. My specimen grew on waste ground 

 about Clevedon, flowering in July. This plant belonged origin- 

 ally to America, but it was introduced into Europe by the 

 French, who cultivate the roots for food. The petals open in a 

 very curious manner. The calyx has little hooks on the upper 

 part, by which it holds together when in bud. The sepals 

 open first at the lower part, and then the corolla bursts asunder 

 the hooks with a loud noise. The flower remains open all the 

 night, unfolding about six in the evening, and closing again 

 as the morning advances. There are many handsome members 

 of this family cultivated in gardens, of every shade of yellow, 

 and some snow white. The poet thus notices the Evening 

 Primrose : 



'* When once the sun sinks in the west, 



And dew-drops pearl the evening's breast ; 



Almost as pale as moonbeams are, 



Or its companionable star, 



The Evening Primrose opes anew 



Its dainty blossoms to the dew." 



The Marsh Isnardia (I. paliistris), is a very scarce, floating 

 pond-plant. The ovate leaves are placed opposite to each other, 

 and are bright green and succulent ; the small green flowers are 

 solitary. I have seen drawings of the plant, but have found no 

 specimen, so we must pass over this family of the Willow-herb 

 group. 



Next to it comes the Enchanter's Nightshade (Circeea lute- 



