THE EVENING PRIMROSE 
97 
thirty species, are plants requiring little care and atten- 
tion ; they are handsome flowers, and have been introduced 
here chiefly from North and South America. 
One of this genus, the showy oenothera (CEnothera 
speciosa), which was brought into England from North 
America, in 1821, has been lately observed to secrete 
at the base of its corolla a sweet liquid. “This/’ says 
a correspondent, in a periodical work, “ is glutinous 
enough to retain prisoner several species of moth, of the 
genus sphynx, especially those which frequent the vine, 
the bindweed, and the milk thistle.” 
The evening primrose, from having been so generally 
planted, has scattered its seeds over many a scene of un- 
cultivated nature; and in Warwickshire and some other 
counties, is found on hedge-banks, by meadow sides, 
on the borders of corn-flelds, or similar spots, towering 
above many of the wild flowers which charm us in these 
places. It is, in works treating solely of British plants, 
often enumerated among them, as it may now be con- 
sidered naturalised ; but it is of American origin, and 
was unknown in this country until 1674, when it was in- 
troduced by the French. It is often cultivated on ac- 
count of its roots, which are edible, and are said to act 
like olives as an incentive to wine. 
The petals of the evening primrose open in a manner 
so remarkable, as to claim our notice. The calyx has 
small hooks upon its upper extremity, by which it holds 
the flower together before expansion. The divisions of 
the calyx open gradually at the lower part, and show the 
yellow flower, which for some time remains closed at the 
upper part, by the hooks. The flower then suddenly 
opens about half way, when it stops, and afterwards gra- 
dually completes its expansion, finally opening with a 
loud noise. It is sometimes half an hour performing this 
curious operation, which may be witnessed any summer 
evening. 
Very few British flowers are open, like this, during 
the night ; but in tropical countries, nightly-blooming 
flowers are common. Several species of creeping plants, 
as well as the Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa) have 
been termed by the French, belle-de-nuit, on account 
of this peculiarity. The night winds of India are sclented 
