EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY. Onagraceee. 



A similar diurnal species with flowers 

 CEnothera ^~^ inch broad, borne in a loose spike or 

 fvuticosa at the bases of the leaves ; the latter are 



Pure yellow oblong or lance-shaped and very slightly 

 May-July toothed. Cross-fertilized by butterflies 



and bees, especially those of the genus Andreua, and 

 the brilliant little flies of the genus Syrphidce. The 

 stigma extends far beyond the anthers, so self-fertiliza- 

 tion is impossible except with the agency of insects. 

 The seed-pods strongly ribbed and winged. Very varia- 

 ble, 1-3 feet high. Common in fields and on roadsides 

 everywhere. The var. linearis is slender, has ver}- nar- 

 row, linear-lance-shaped leaves, and the less ribbed seed- 

 pods taper into the slender stalk. From Conn, south, 

 and west to Mo. Blooming from June to September. 



An inconspicuous perennial of damp and 

 Enchanter's , .,,-,, , 



Nightshade shady woodlands, with opposite thin, frail 

 Circcea deep green leaves, ovate pointed, remotely 



Lutetiana toothed, and long-stemmed. The tiny 

 White white flowers have two petals so deeply 



cleft that they appear as four ; they are 

 borne at the tip of a long slender stem, which is set 

 about with the little green burlike, white-haired, nearly 

 round seed-pods. Fertilized by the beelike fly (Bombyli- 

 us), the brilliant green Syrphid fly, and the mining bee 

 (Andrena). Plant-stem very smooth and swollen at the 

 joints. Common in cool and moist woodlands every- 

 where. Named for the enchantress Circe. This and the 

 next species are often found close together in Campton, 

 N. H. 



Circcea & smaller species, the stem of which is 



alpina watery and translucent, ruddy and 



White smooth. The thin and delicate heart- 



y-August shaped leaves are Shiny, coarsely blunt- 

 toothed, and distinctly different from those of the 

 preceding species. Tiny leaflets, or bracts, are set im- 

 mediately beneath the flowers. The burlike buds are 

 club-shaped. 3-8 inches high. Common only in the 

 north and among the mountains. 



300 



