onageace^:. 273 



XXVI. THE (ENOTHERA FAMILY. ONAGRACEiE. 



Herbs, or, in some exotic genera, shrubs, with the leaves, es- 

 pecially the lower ones, frequently opposite, almost always undi- 

 vided (except when immersed in water), and toothed, without sti- 

 pules. Flowers in terminal spikes or racemes, or the lower ones 

 solitary in the axils of the leaves. Calyx-tube adhering to the 

 ovary, sometimes prolonged considerably above it ; the limb of 4 

 or sometimes 2 lobes, not overlapping each other in the bud. 

 Petals as many, inserted on the calyx below its lobes, or occa- 

 sionally wanting. Stamens 8, 4, 2, or 1, inserted with the petals. 

 Styles simple or divided at the top into 2 or 4 stigmas. Ovary 

 inferior, of 2 or 4 cells. 



A considerable Order, ranging over the whole world, but in the 

 greatest variety in North America. It is readily known amongst 

 European Calyciflores with an inferior syncarpous ovary, by the parts 

 of the flowers being all in twos or in fours. The small-flowered genera 

 with sessile stigmas (of which Myriojohyll and Marestail are the only 

 British ones) form a distinct Suborder, sometimes considered as an in- 

 dependent Order, under the name of Haloragece. 



Style distinctly present. 

 Stamens 8. Petals 4. 



Flowers purplish-red, pink, or white. Capsule long. 



Seeds with a tuft of hairs 1. Epilobe. 



Flowers large, yellow. Capsule short. Seeds without 



hairs 2. CEnothera. 



Stamens 4. Petals small or none. Capsule short. Seeds 



without hairs 3. Lttdwiqia. 



Stamens 2. Petals 2, cleft. Capsule small, hispid. Seeds 



1 or 2 4. CiECiEA. 



Stigma sessile on the ovary. Aquatic plants with mmute 

 flowers. 



Stamens 4 or 8. Stigmas and seeds 4 5. Myriophyll. 



Stamen, stigma, and seed 1 6. Marestail. 



The North American Clarkias, Zauschneria and Gaura, of our 

 flower-gardens, and the South American Fuchsias of our plant-houses, 

 all belong to the CEnothera family. 



I. EPILOBE. EPILOBIUM. 



Herbs, mostly erect, with annual flowering stems, either with a 

 creeping perennial rootstock, or, in the small-flowered species, becoming 

 YOL. I. T 



