LOASACEyE-LOASA FAMILY 



BARTONIA. BLAZING STAR 



Bartdnia aurea. Mentzelia Lindleyi. 



Stem. — One to three feet high, stout, branched and straggling; gray 

 with pubescence. 



Leaves. — Alternate, two to three inches long, coarsely toofced; with 

 rough pubescence. 



Flowers. — Solitary on short branches, about two and a half inches 

 across, bright-yellow, fragrant in the evening, diurnal. 



Calyx tube. — Cylindrical; five-cleft, persistent. 



Petals. — Five, broadly obovate, spreading, inserted on the throat of 

 the calyx, convolute in the bud. 



Stamens. — Many, inserted with the petals on the throat of the calyx. 



Ovary. — One-celled; styles three, more or less united; stigmas 

 minute. 



Capsule. — One-celled; opening at the summit. 



Seeds.— ¥\a.t. 



The LoasacecB are a family of rough, thistle-like plants native 

 to our Western plains and mountains. One species, Bartonia 

 aurea, is found sometimes in the garden but is not very generally 

 known. 



There are, however, two night-blooming species of Mentzelia that 

 should be in cultivation. They are wonderful plants; by day 

 rough and thistle-like, unprepossessing and undesirable; but 

 when the sun goes down the buds awaken, open, transform them- 

 selves into fluffy masses; the thistle sticks bloom like Aaron's 

 rod, while a delicate fragrance fills the air. Some day these wild 

 Mentzelias will be cultivated for evening decoration. 



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