432 MANGROVES. ORDER ONAGRARIACE^E. 



oysters and other shell-fish, which cluster around them ; and 

 hence originated the wonderful tales of the early voyagers in 

 tropical climates, who affirmed that, in the East and West Indies, 

 oysters, &c. grow upon trees. The properties of this order are 

 astringent ; and the bark of several species is used, in the countries 

 where they grow, for dyeing black with iron. 



599. The succeeding order, ONAGRARIACEJE, requires notice 

 chiefly on account of its containing several British species, among 

 which may be mentioned the (Enothera, or Evening-Primrose, 

 and the Epilobium, or Willow-herb. The former derives its 

 common name from the circumstance of its beautiful yellow 

 flower unfolding to the evening sun, but retiring with the glare 

 of advancing day. Its scientific name, which means Wine-trap, 

 was conferred upon it on account of the use formerly made of its 

 roots, which were eaten after dinner (as olives now are) as an 

 incentive to drinking ; it was originally called Onagra, or Ass- 

 food ; and from this name, that of the order has been derived. 

 Of the latter, a great many species exist in this country, some of 

 which may be found in almost every hedge. They may be at 

 once recognised by the peculiar position of the flower, which 

 seems placed at the top of a long pod or seed-vessel, whence the 

 scientific name (meaning upon a pod) is conferred upon it. One 

 of the species of this, known as the Great Hairy Willow-herb, is 

 among the finest of all our British herbs ; its stout hairy stems 

 rising to the height of five or six feet, and being terminated by 

 long clusters of bright red flowers. The typical genera of this 

 order may be at once distinguished, by the prevalence of the 

 number four in all the parts of the flower. The calyx consists 

 of four sepals, which adhere at their lower part, so as to form a 

 long tube enveloping the ovarium ; and they not unfrequently 

 adhere in some degree, after they have diverged from the top of 

 this, so that the calyx appears as if it were divided into only two 

 portions. From the top of the tube of the calyx arise four petals ; 

 and within these are commonly found eight stamens, each of 

 which has a very long anther, swinging (as it were) by its middle 

 from the summit of the filament. The pollen of this tribe is 

 peculiar in form, the grains being triangular, and cohering to 



