onogracejE. 273 



in a loose spike along the end of the stem, each one situated in 

 the axil of a leaf-like bract. The flowers of the family are very 

 characteristic, as shown here. They are sessile in the axil of 

 the bract, and the calyx forms a long tube by the union of the 

 sepals, only the end of the tube being divided into the indi- 

 vidual parts, showing four lobes. On the edge of the open end 

 of the calyx tube are seated the four, somewhat heart-shaped, 

 yellowish petals, and here are also seated the eight stamens. 

 The four carpels are united into a single pistil within the base 

 of the calyx tube and united with it, so that the calyx tube 

 seems to be on the end of the pistil. The flowers soon fade 

 and fall away from the pistil, and this grows into an elongated 

 four-angled, pod. Since the lower flowers on the stem are the 

 older, we find nearly mature fruit and fresh flowers, with all 

 intermediate grades, on the same plant. 



The plants grow by roadsides and in old fields. They are 

 from 10cm to a meter or more high (one to five feet). The 

 leaves are lanceolate or oblong, toothed and repand on the 

 margin. In many of the species of the family the parts of the 

 flower are in fours as in the evening primrose, but in others the 

 number is variable. 



