48 LETTER III. 



The flowers are bright yellow ; and are entirely 

 different from those of any of the preceding tribes. 

 In the first place the calyx has a long slender tube 

 (Plate III. I. fig. 1. a.), from the top of which arise 

 two leaves, both turned the same way, and notched at 

 the point (fig. 1. b.) ; it is in reality composed of four 

 sepals, united at the base into a tube, but capable of 

 being separated above the tube into four pieces, as 

 you may easily see if you attempt to divide it wdth 

 the point of a pin. 



From the top of the tube of the calyx arise four 

 petals. — Observe, again, — four, — which are of a 

 bright yellow, and are rolled together, except in the 

 night, when the flowers are expanded. 



Twice four stamens spring from the top of the tube ; 

 each has a very long anther, which swings by its 

 middle from the summit of the filament, and sheds its 

 pollen in such a way that it looks as if it were mixed 

 with cobweb. If you magnify this pollen in a drop 

 of water, each grain will be found three-cornered 

 (fig. 5.), and held to its neighbour by excessively 

 delicate threads ; a peculiarity in the pollen which 

 is rarely met with, except in the Evening Primrose 

 tribe. 



The ovary {fig. 1. c.) is inferior, and is marked 

 by eight ribs, of which four are more prominent than 

 the others ; it contains four ca\4ties, in each of which 

 is a great many seeds. The style is a long slender 

 body, rising within the tube of the calyx, as high as 

 the stamens, and then separating into four narrow 

 stigmas. 



