STENOSIPHON VIRGATUS.—THE STENOSIPHON. 167 
they might easily be taken without close examination for pedi- 
cels or flower stalks. It is difficult to conceive for what special 
advantage to the plant such a very slender tube is designed. 
The seed vessel, also, is remarkably small. After the flower has 
faded there seems to be nothing left in the axils of the bracts, 
and only the careful observer, lens in hand, is likely to discover 
that perfect seed-vessels have been produced. 
It will also be an interesting study in connection with other 
plants of the order Oxagracee, of which the /uchsra and the 
Evening Primrose are familiar examples. The quaternary type, 
as represented in the four petals, four sepals, and twice four 
stamens, prevails through the whole order. In the length of the 
tube of the corolla if not in slenderness we may also find a 
parallel to our plant in many of the family. The @vothera or 
“Evening Primrose” is also closely allied to it; but while so 
many of this genus open only at evening or morning, or during 
dull, cloudy weather, the Svexos7phon is an especial lover of 
daylight and bright skies. 
Most of the order Oxagracee give great pleasure to mankind 
by their beauty. Our gardens and greenhouses would be badly 
off without them. As subjects for the artist they are ever tempt- 
ing his pencil or brush; and the artist, as his works abundantly 
show, is as ever ready to avail himself of their beautiful hues, 
colors, and elegant forms. We shall be very much surprised if 
the pretty addition we now bring to notice does not become as 
popular as its brethren, as there is so much that is truly artistic 
to recommend it. 
The order has few qualities of any service to man beyond this 
simple gift of beauty; and the species we now illustrate is not 
known to have anything but its beauty to attract us to it. Its 
relationship to Gauva, a somewhat extensive genus, prevents our 
attention being so closely drawn to its solitary condition, as it 
generally is when a genus of but a single species stands entirely 
isolated from all near kindred. And yet there may be some 
advantages in cases of this kind, as we can better study the vari- 
