half in length, quadrangular, pubescent. Calyx of 4 sepals,
generally connected by pairs towards the points. Petals 4,
very broad, closely imbricate, spreading flat when expanded,
rounded, and crenulate at the edges. Stamens 8 ; anthers
narrowly linear, attached by their back to the filaments;
pollen yellow, stringy : filaments inserted in the mouth of the
calyx. Style inserted on the ovarium, extending beyond
the flower, smooth. Stigma 4-cleft, the lobes long, spreading,
cylindrical.
This plant is a great acquisition to showy border flowers,
it being, in our opinion, one of the most elegant of the species
of (Enothera; and it will no doubt turn out to be perfectly
hardy, at least equally so with the A rgemone grandiflora ;
but should it be found not to stand our climate in the open
border as a perennial, it will, at least, form a showy border
annual, as it flowers very early, the first year, from seed.
The seed, if sown early in Spring, on a hot-bed, and if the
plants are planted out in the open border in April, they will
flower in June. It is a native of Chiloe, from whence seeds
were sent to Mr. Page, along with bulbs of Habranthus roseus,
No. 107 of the present Number, by Lieutenant Barlow, in
1828.
The species appears to be intermediate between CEno-
thera taraxacifolia, and (E. acaulis; from which it differs in
its more upright habit, and in the leaves being more unequally
lobed.
The generic name is said to be derived from olvoq, wine,
and to hunt; because the roots of (Enothera biennis
are said to be eaten after meals, and are incentives to wine
drinking, as olives are.
1. Calyx, shewing the insertion o f the Stamens. 2 . S ty le , and 4-lobed Stigma.
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