WEEDS OP THE EVENING-PRIMROSE FAMILY. 99 



John's day and hang it in their windows as a charm against storms, 

 thunder and evil spirits. In Italy it is known as the ' ' devil chaser" 

 because it scares away those who work in darkness by bringing to 

 light their hidden deeds. It spreads by runners from the base and 

 by seeds in hay, clover and grass seed. Remedies : cutting or pull- ■ 

 ing in meadows before mowing; digging or spudding; thorough 

 cultivation with hoed crops. 



The Evening-Primrose Family. — ONAGRACEiE. 



Herbs of varied size and appearance having the calyx tube 

 united its full length with the ovary and often prolonged beyond 

 it. Petals usually 4, twisted in the bud ; stamens as many or twice 

 as many as the petals and, with the latter, inserted on the top of 

 the calyx tube : ovary usually 4-celled, with numerous ovules in 

 each cavity. Fruit a capsule or small nut. 



A family of medium size whose members have the leaves either 

 opposite or alternate, and grow in various kinds of soil. The 

 fuchsias, raised for ornament, are about the only cultivated forms. 

 Among the 22 species listed from the State as growing wild are 

 the water purslanes, willow herbs, fireweeds, evening-primroses, 

 sundrops and enchanter's nightshades. Of these only one is common 

 enough to be included in this book of weeds. 



62. Onagea biennis L. Common 

 Evening-Primrose. (B. N. 2.) 

 Stem erect, stout, usually un- 

 branched, 1-9 feet high, often reddish ; 

 leaves many, lanceolate, pointed, un- 

 evenly and finely toothed, 1-6 inches 

 long. Flowers in leafy bracted, terminal 

 spikes, bright yellow, 1-2 inches broad ; 

 calyx tube slender, much longer than 

 the ovary. Capsules oblong, narrowed 

 above, erect, hairy. Seeds small, brown, 

 roughened, angular, 1/32 inch long. 

 (Pigs. 11 d, h\ 66.) 



Common along streams and road- 

 sides and in old, neglected fields, es- 

 pecially those -with a sandy soil, 

 sometimes crowding out all other 

 growth and forming dense thickets. 

 June-Oct. This primrose and the 

 Fig. 66. "showm! flower-bud 3 , flowers, and mullen are often found together on 

 SSSSh&Si J*" w *" hm ' {M *- ?M " C^ sunny slopes, their petals vie- 



