206 THE (ENOTHEEA TAMILT. 



other in tlie bud. Petals as many, inserted on the calyx below 

 its lobes, or occasionally wanting. Stamens 8, 4, 2, or 1, in- 

 serted with the petals. Styles simple or divided at the top 

 into 2 or 4 stigmas. Ovary inferior, of 2 or 4 cells. 



A considerable Order, ranging over the whole world, but in the greatest 

 variety in North America. It is readily known amongst European Caly- 

 ciflores with an inferior syncarpous ovary, by the parts of the flower being 

 all in twos or in fours. The small-flowered genera with sessile stigmas (of 

 which Myriophyll and Marestail are the only British ones) form a distinct 

 Suborder, sometimes considered as an independent Order, under the name 

 of Haloragece. 



Style distinct. 

 Stamens 8. Petals 4. ■, . , 



Plowers purplish-red, pint, or white. Capsule long. Seeds with 



a tuft of hairs 1- Epilobe. 



Flowers large, yellow. Capsule short. Seeds without hairs . . 2. QSnotheea. 

 Stamens 4. Petals small or none. Capsule short. Seeds without 



hairs S. Litdwigia. 



Stamens 3.' Petals 2, cleft. Capsule small, hispid. Seeds 1 or 2 . 4. CiKCffiA. 

 Stigma sessile on tlie ovary. Aquatic plants with minute flowers. 



Stamens 4 or 8. Stigma, and seeds 4 5. Mteiophtll. 



Stamen, stigma, and seed 1 6. Marestail. 



The North American Clarhias, ZaiiscJmeria and Gaura, of our flower- 

 gardens, and the South American Fuchsias of our plant-houses, aU belong to 

 the (Enothera family. 



I. EFILiOBE. EPILOBIUM. 



Herbs, mostly erect, with annual flowering stems, either with a creeping 

 perennial rootstock, or, in the smaU-flowered species, becoming perennial 

 by means of scions or offsets formed in autumn at the base of the decaying 

 stem. Leaves opposite, or irregularly scattered. Flowers pink or red, 

 rarely white. Limb of the calyx 4-cleft. Petals 4. Stamens 8. Ovary 

 and capsule long and narrow, 4-ceUed. Style distinct, with a club-shaped 

 or 4-lobed stigma. Seeds numerous, bearing a tuft of long hairs. 



The genus is diflPused over nearly the whole of the globe, from the extreme 

 Arctic regions of both hemispheres to the tropics. The numerous forms 

 the species assume in every variety of climate, make it exceedingly difficult 

 to define them upon any certaia principle, and botanists seldom agree as to 

 the number they should admit. Those here adopted are the most marked 

 among our British forms ; but it must be confessed that in some mstances 

 intermediates are to be met with which wiU be found very puzzling. In all 

 cases the style must be carefully observed, if possible when fresh, and a note 

 made whether the stigma is entire or lobed. 



Flowers somewhat irregular, in long, terminal, leafless racemes. Petals 



spreading from the base, mostly entire 1. Willow IE. 



Flowers regmar, axillary or in short racemes, leafy at the base. Petals 

 erect at the base, mostly notched. 

 Stigma deephj -i-loljed. 



Stem often 3 to 4 feet. Flowers large. Leaves clasping the stem . 2. Great E. 

 Stem seldom above 2 feet. Leaves, at least the lower ones, shortly 

 stalked. 

 Leaves lanceolate, the middle ones sessile. Plant softly hairy . . 3. Soary E. 

 Leaves ovate-lanceolate or ovate, mostly stalked. Plant glabrous 



or slightly hoary 4. Broad E, 



