EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY. 



ONAGRACE^. 

 Day and Night Primrose. CEkothera pumila. 



Found in June on sandy banks and dry pastures. 



Its single leafy stalk, from 12 to 15 inches in height, is very 

 slightly hairy, and somewhat shining. It is pale in color, inclining to 

 dull pinkish. 



The root-leaves are round at the tip, tapering to the base, and set 

 on long stems ; the upper leaves are long, and narrow, with stem-like 

 bases; the margins are entire, the texture close and velvety to the 

 touch ; in color dull green, the foot-leaves pinkish slightly. Set near 

 together, and alternately. 



The 4 petals of the flower are heart-shaped, and spreading with a 

 shallow curve, of a thin texture, which shows the veins, and in color a 

 beautiful clear yellow; the calyx-tube is about a half-inch long, the 

 part which contains the seed-box is thick, grooved, and green, the upper 

 part is slendei', and tinged with red : the 4 calyx-divisions are dry and 

 pale. The flowers are set in the angles of the upper leaves. 



According to Dr. Gray the blossoms of this plant which open in 

 early sunlight do not go to sleep until eleven o'clock at night. For a 

 space beneath the flowers the close-set leaves cease and the somewhat 

 curving stalk is bare. 



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