YELLOW GROUP 



Fruit, a 4-square, box-like capsule, with rounded base and winged 

 angles, in which the ripe seeds rattle. Leaves, sessile, linear or 

 lance-shaped, pointed at both ends. A smooth, erect stem 2 to 

 3 \ feet high arises from fascicled, sometimes tuberous, roots. June 

 to September. 



Swamps or low, shady, wet woods, from Maine to Florida 

 and Texas. 



L. hirtella. — A hairy form, smaller in flowers and leaves, 1 to 2 

 feet high, with clustered roots which are often thickened and 

 tuberous. Leaves, blunt at both ends, or pointed at apex, lance- 

 shaped. June to September. 



In wet pine barrens, New Jersey to Florida and Texas. 



L. linearis bears small flowers, single, in axils of very narrow, 

 linear leaves, sessile, later producing rather large capsules. Calyx- 

 tube angled, bearing at top triangularly - shaped lobes, shorter 

 than the petals, which are a pale greenish yellow. 12 to 30 

 inches high. July to September. 



Swamps, pine barrens in New York and New Jersey. 



Common Evening Primrose 



Oenothera biennis. — Family, Evening Primrose. Color, bright 

 yellow. Calyx-tube, 4-lobed at top, narrow, much prolonged be- 

 yond the ovary. Petals, 4. Stamens, 8. Fruit, a 4-valved cap- 

 sule. Leaves, alternate, long, narrow or oblong, pointed, the 

 lowest on petioles. 



The evening primroses may be known by a long calyx- 

 tube, at the end of which is the flower. The flowers are short- 

 lived, and are followed by rough pods on the lower part of 

 the spike. Hence, though a showy flower, generously bright- 

 ening dry and dusty places, the aspect of the whole plant is 

 coarse and unfinished. The flowers open at sunset and on 

 cloudy days, and wither the next morning. In September 

 they remain open all day. 



The stem is stout and hairy, 1 to 5 feet high. These 

 blossoms are fertilized by night-flying insects, whose keen 

 eyes see the golden blossoms in the darkness, and whose keen 

 sense of smell is attracted by their delicate fragrance. (See 

 illustration, p. 196.) 



Sundrops 



0. fmtiebsa. — Flower, nearly as in the preceding. The calyx- 

 lobes turn back. Pod, 4-angled, on a short, thick stalk. Leaves, 



I9S 



