156 



ORDER XLIX. ONAGRACE^ — EVENING PRIMROSE-FAMILY. 



2. (EN6TnERA. Calyx-tube prolonged beyond the ovary. Capsule oblong 

 or oblong-clavate, 4-angled, sometimes winded on the angles. 



3. FusciiiA. Calyx prolonged above the ovary, petaloid. Capsule oblong 

 or baccate, globular. Shrubby. 



** Stamens 2—4. 



4. Ijudwigia. Petals 4, or none. Stamens 4. Capsule 4-celled, many- 

 seeded. Leaves entire. 



5 CiRo^A. Petals 2. Stamens 2. Capsule 2-oelled, 2-5eeded. 



SuBOEDEE II. Halorageae. 



Caly.Y-tube never longer than the ovary, the limb entire, or scarcely toothed. 

 Petals 4, rarely present. Stamens 1— S. Capsule 1^- celled, 1 — 4-seeded, in- 

 dehiscent Aquatics with minute, axillary flowers. 



6. Proserpinaoa. Calyx-tube 3-sided. Limb 3-partod. Petals none. 

 Stamens 3. Capsule 3-sided. 



7. MYRiopnYLLUiM. Flowers mostly monoecious. Calyx somewhat 4-parted. 

 Petals 4, or more. Stamens 4 — S. 



1. epil6bium. 



Calyx-tube not prolonged beyond the ovary. Limb 4-cleft, 

 or 4-parted to the base, "with spreading and deciduous segments. 

 Petals 4. Stamens 8. Anthers attached near the middle. Stig- 

 ma clavate, or with 4 lobes. Capsule linear, 4-sided, 4-celled, 4- 

 valved. Per. 



1. E. angustif61ium. Willow Herb. 



stem erect, simple, mostly smooth ; leaves lanceolate, sessile, nearly entire, 

 glabrous ; flowers numerous, large, of a purplish lilac-color, in a long, terminal, 

 Bpicate raceme; petals unguiculate; stamens and styles declined; capsules 

 cauescent A very showy plant in low grounds and newly cleared lands, 2 — 6 

 feet high. Not uncommon. Jaly — Aug. 



2. E. coloratum. Colored Willow-Herb. 



stem erect, nearly terete, very branching, puberulent; leaves mostly oppo- 

 site, lanceolate, acute, very shortly petiolate, subscrrulatc, often with reddish 

 veins; flowers numerous, rose-color, small; petals cleft at apex% twice as long as 

 the sepals; stigma clavate ; capsules on short pedicels, somewhat pubescent. 

 A common plant in wet, swampy grounds ; growing 1—3 feethigh, very branch- 

 ing above. The leaves are marked with numerous white dots. 



2. (en6theea. 



Calyx-tube prolonged beyond the ovary, the segments 4, refles- 

 ed. Petals 4, equal, obcordate or obovate, inserted into the top 

 of the calyx-tube. Stamens 8. Capsule 4-celled, 4-valved, many- 

 seeded. Stigma 4-lobed. 



1. (E. biennis. Evening Prinhrose. 



stem erect, simple or branched, rough with scattered hairs ; leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate, pubescent ; flowers large, yellow, in a terminal leafy spike, ses- 

 sile ; calyx-tube much longer than the ovary ; capsule sessile, oblong, obscurely 

 4-angled or nearly round, often pubescent. A tall plant 3— 5 ibct high, with 

 reddish stem, and large yellow flowers, which open with a strong perfume at 

 night, or in cloudy weather, and last only one day. Common in fields and 

 waste grounds. Jane— Aug. Very variable. Biennial. 



2. QE. pumila. Dwarf Frimrose. 



stem slender, simple, reclined at base, ascending, somewhat pubescent ; 

 .caves lanceolate, entire, obtuse, tapering at base, sessile ; flowers rather small, 

 yellow, nearly sessile, in a terminal, leafy spike ; calyx-tube shorter than the 

 ovary; petals obcordate, scarcely longer than the calyx and stamens; capsule 

 oblong-clavate, angular, the alternate angles winged. A slender plant with de- 

 clining stem, 8' — 12' high, in grassy fields. Common. Per. June — Aug, 



8. FtrSCHIA. 

 Calyx tubular-funnel form, colored, deciduous, with a 4-lobed 

 limb. Petals 4, inserted in the throat of the calyx, alternating with 

 its segments. Bisk glandular, 8-furrowed. Capsule baccate, ob- 

 long, obtuse, 4-sided. 



1. F. coccinea. Ladyh JEardrojp. 



stem shrubby, with smooth branches ; leaves opposite or verticillate, in B's, 

 ovate, acute, denticulate, ou short petioles; flowers axillaiy, nodding ; sepals 

 oblong, acute ; petals convolute, half as long as the calyx. A beautiful shrub 

 for the greenhouse, or house cultivation, growing 1—6 feet high, with large 

 floweis, on long, filiform pedicels; calyx scarlet, spreading; petals convolute ; 

 riolet-purple. Stamens much exsert, crimson ; berry purple. 



4. LUDWfGIA. 

 Calyx-tube not prolonged beyond the ovary, with 4-lobe^ 

 mostly persistent. Petals 4, equal ; often minute, or wanting 

 Stamens 4, opposite the calyx-segments. Capsules short, often 

 perforated at summit, 4-celled, 4-valved, crowned with the per* 

 sistent calyx-segments. Per. 



1. L. alternif61ia. Seedbox. 



stem erect, branching, slightly angled, nearly smooth ; leaves lanceolate, or 

 oblong-lanceolate, alternate, sub-acute, tapering at base, sessile ; flowers yellow, 

 on axillary, solitary peduncles; calyx-segments broadly ovate, acuminate, turn- 

 ing purple inside, fully equalling the petals ; capsule4 winged, crowned with the 

 calyx. A common plaut in swamps, 13' — 25' high, with tough bark. Flowers 

 yellow, rather large and showy, but fugacious. July — Aug. 



2. L. palt'stris. Water Purslane. 



Smooth and somewhat succulent ; stems procumbent ; leaves opposite, ovale, 

 entire, petiolate, acute ; flowers sessile, axillary, apetalous, sometimes with small, 

 reddish petals ; capsule oblong, 4-angled, short, abrupt at both ends, and crown- 

 ed with the green calyx. A little, creeping plant in muddy places, or floating 

 in water. Common. Jmie — Sep. 



5. CIEC^A. 

 Calyx-tube slightly produced beyond the ovary, deciduous ; 

 the limb 2-parted. Petals 2, obcordate. Stamens 2, alternate 

 with the petals. Capsule obovate, hispid, with hooked hairs, 2- 

 celled, at length 2-valved, 2-seeded. Per. 



1. C. Lutetiilna. Enchanter^ s Nightshade. 



stem erect, brandling, pubescent above; leaves opposite, ovate, somewhat 

 cordate at base, acuminate, slightly repand-toothed ; flowers small, white, or 

 pale rose-color, in elongated, naked racemes; bracts none; calyx rcflexcd; 

 fruit obcordate, covered with hooked bristles, on slender, reflexed pedicels. An 

 elegant plant, 1 — 2 feet high, generally somewhat pubescent, with tumid nodes 

 and dark green foliage. Common in damp, rich woods. July. 



2. C, alpina. Alpine Enchanter'' s Nightshade. 



Smooth; stem ascending, weak, somewhat juicy; leaves opposite, cordate, 

 somewhat coarsely dentate, as long as their petioles ; flowers small, white, rarely 

 rose-color, in elongated racemes, with minute, setaceous bracts ; capsules pubes- 

 cent, but scarcely hispid. A delicate little plant, 8' — 8' high, much resembling 

 the last, but distinguished by the smaller flowers and fruit, the presence of bracts 

 audits entire smoothness. Not uncommon in dense, damp woods. July. 



6. PROSERPiNACA. 



Caljrs-tube 3-sided, adhering to the ovary, with a 3-parted 

 limb. Petals none. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3, oblong. Fruit bony, 

 3-sided, 3-celled, crowned with the persistent calyx. Per. 



1. P. palustris. Mermaid-Weed. 



Stem ascending at base, striate, smooth ; leaves alternate, lanceolate, sharply 

 serrate ; those below the water pinnatifid, with linear segments, and on short pe- 

 tioles ; flowers small, green, axillary, 1 — 3 together, followed by a hard, triangular 

 nut, with sharp corners. Common in shallow water shaded by thick swamps 

 or woods, with stems 6'— 12' high. Jmie—July. 



7. MTPJOPHYLLUM. 



Flowers monoecious, or frequently perfect. Calyx 4-toothed 

 in the perfect and pistillate flowers, 4-parted in the sterile. Pe- 

 tals 4, often minute or wanting. Stamens 4 — 8. Fruit consisting 

 of 4 nut-like, indehiscent carpels, cohering by their inner angles, 

 included in the calyx-tube. Aquatic. Per. 



1. M. spicatum. Water Millfoil. 



Leaves verticillate in 8's, pinnately parted, -with capillary segments; floral 

 leaves, or bracts shorter than the flowers, ovate, entire, the lower larger and ser- 

 rate ; flowers greenish, small, in terminal, nearly naked spikes ; petals broad- 

 ovate. An aquatic plant growing in deep ponds, with very long, slender, 

 branching, submersed stems, only the spikes appearing above water. July— 

 Aug. 



2. M. ambiguum. Millfoil, 



-Leaves alternate; submersed ones pinnately parted, with capillary segments ; 

 those near the surface pectinate ; upper ones linear, entire, or slightly toothed, 

 petiolate ; flowers axillary, minute, mostly perfect ; petals oblong, somewhat per- 



