jEvening primroee Jfamil?. 



Common Evening Primrose. (Enothera biennis. 



Found in pastures and roadsides, beginning to bloom in July and 

 continuing until frost-time. 



The stout and leafy stalk grows from 1 to 4 feet high ; it is woody- 

 fibred, hairy, and light green in color. 



The narrow, lance-shaped leaf tapers at each end, and has a sti'ong 

 midrib, an irregular margin, and a very downy surface ; in color green. 

 The upper leaves clasp the stalk by a stem-like base, the lower ones 

 with a strong, little foot-stem ; they are alternately placed. 



The 4 large heart-shaped petals, of a fine, thin texture, are a pure 

 light yellow color ; the 8 stamens are orange-tipped, and the 4 divisions 

 of the calyx are pale yellow ; they turn back upon its tube with a 

 twisting gesture. This calyx-tube is over an inch in length, the lower 

 half, which contains the seed-box, is enlarged, grooved, sticky to the 

 touch, and shining green ; the upper part is slender, smooth, and not 

 sticky, and pale yellow in color. The flowers are set close on the stalk 

 in the hold of the leaves. 



After its one night's fragrant perfection, the withei'ed blossom 

 hangs for a day or two, before its calyx-tube severs itself from the seed- 

 box as neatly as though cut by a knife. It is only by chance that the 

 clarity of the flower's yellow hue is seen, when, in some gray morning 

 fog, a belated flower is caught full-blown. Sometimes the plant grows 

 to the size of a bush ; its fall seedling shows a flat tuffet of curious, 

 white-marked lily-like leaves that hug the ground. 



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