ONAGRACE^-EVENING PRIMROSE 

 FAMILY 



EVENING PRIMROSE 



CEnotMra biennis. Onagra biennis. 

 (Enothera, a Greek name of obscure application. 



, Wild in open grounds, often in the Middle West taking possession 

 of neglected tracts in the cities. The large-flowered forms are cultivated, 

 especially the variety grandifldra. Common throughout the United 

 States east of the Rocky Mountains. Midsummer. 



Stem. — Erect, stout, leafy, more or less branching, two to five feet 

 high. 



Leaves. — Lanceolate to oblong, acute or acuminate, sessile; the lower 

 petioled, repand-denticulate, two to six inches long. 



Flowers. — Yellow, borne in a terminal, leafy, bracted spike, opening 

 suddenly in evening twilight and fading away when bright sunshine 

 comes. 



Calyx-tube. — One to two inches long, prolQnged beyond the ovary; 

 border four-lobed; lobes valvate in bud, tips* contiguous, turn back 

 quickly as the corolla opens. 



Petals. — Yellow, four, convolute in bud, unroll quickly as the sepals 

 turn back. 



Stamens. — Eight; anthers linear; pollen grains cobwebby. 



Ovary. — Four-celled; style long, slender; stigma four-lobed. 



Capsule. — Oblong, four-celled, many-seeded. 



It is worth while to stand in the dim and dewy twilight and see 

 the blossom of the Evening Primrose burst its bonds. All day 

 the life within the long pointed bud has been restless, the petals 

 have been slowly unrolling and steadily pushing against the green 

 walls of their prison-house, and as the sun sinks they are ready 

 to free themselves, only held in leash by the tips of the sepals, 



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