150 THE @NOTHERA FAMILY. [_Epilobium. 
with the petals. Styles simple or divided at the top into 2 or 
4 stigmas. Ovary inferior, of 2 or 4 cells, in all British genera. 
Fruit various, capsular in the British genera. Seeds usually 
small, without albumen. 
A considerable Order, ranging over the whole world, but in the greatest 
variety in North America. It is readily known amongst European Calyci- 
flores with an inferior syncarpous ovary, by the parts of the flower being 
all in twos or in fours. The small-flowered genera with sessile stigmas, in- 
cluded in the Order in the first edition of this work, are now separated 
under the name of Haloragee. 
Stamens 8. Petals 4, 
Flowers purplish-red, pink, or white. Capsule long. Seeds 
with a tuft of hairs ; : - - A ; : 4 . 1, Eprtoztum, 
Flowers large, yellow. Capsule short. Seeds without hairs . 2. GinorTHERa. — 
Stamens 4. Petals smallor none. Capsule short. Seeds with- 
out hairs 3. LUDWIeIA. 
Stamens 2. Petals 2; cleft. Capsule small, hispid. Seeds 1 or 2 4, CIRCHA, 
The North American Clarkias, Zauschneria and Gaura, of our flower- 
gardens, and the South American /uchsias of our plant-houses, all belong 
to the Hnothera family. 
I. EPILOBIUM. EPILOBE. 
Herbs, mostly erect, with annual flowering stems, either with a creeping 
perennial rootstock, or, in the small-flowered species, becoming ‘perennial 
by means of scions or offsets formed in autumn at the base of the decaying 
stem. Leaves opposite, or irregularly scattered. Flowers pink or red, 
rarely white. Limb of the calyx 4-cleft. Petals 4, Stamens 8. Ovary 
and capsule long and narrow, 4-celled. Style distinct, with a club-shaped 
or 4-lobed stigma. Seeds numerous, bearing a tuft of long hairs. 
The genus is diffused over nearly the whole of the globe, from the ex- 
treme Arctic regions of both hemispheres to the tropics. The numerous 
forms the species assume in every variety of climate [together with the 
frequent hybrids], make it exceedingly difficult to define them upon any 
certain principle, and botanists seldom agree as to the number they should 
admit. Those here adopted are the most marked among our British forms ; 
but it must be confessed that in some instances intermediates are to be met 
with which will be found very puzzling. In all cases the style must be 
carefully observed, if possible when fresh, and a note made whether the 
stigma is entire or lobed. 
Flowers somewhat irregular, in long, terminal, leafless ra- - 
cemes. Petals spreading from the base, mostly entire . 1. EH. angustifolium. 
Flowers regular, axillary or in shortracemes, leafy at the base. 
Petals erect at the base, mostly notched. 
Stigma deeply 4-lobed. 
Stem often 3 to 4 feet. Flowers large. Leaves clasping 
the stem. : : . ‘ - - ° 4 a 
Stem seldom above 2 feet. Leaves, at least the lower ones, 
shortly stalked. 
Leaves lanceolate, the middle ones sessile. Plants softly 
hairy . : 4 ; ‘ A : ° \ : ; 
Leaves ovate-lanceolate or ovate, mostly stalked. Plant 
glabrous or slightly hoary < ; ‘ : 2 . 
Stigma club-shaped, entire (or very shortly 4-lobed in E, rosewm),. 
2. EL. hirsutum, 
3. EH. parvifiorum. 
4. EH. montanum, 
