ceolate, acuminate, deeply and regularly sinuate, or nearly runcinate,
with dentures on the cut portions. The sinuations are largest towards
the apex, and decrease gradually as they approximate the base, which
terminates in an attenuation scarcely broader than the mid-rib. Flowers
radical, straw-yellow, vespertine, in favourable situations about the
size of the largest one figured in the plate, though often smaller.
Petals ovate, of very thin and delicate texture, acute, somewhat three-
lobed towards the apex, three-nerved, nerves white, one central and
the other two running from the base to the point of each lobe or tooth.
Stamens two, proceeding from the base of each petal. Filaments yellow,
nearly half an inch long. Anthers oblong, orange-yellow. Tube
very long—from two to three and a half inches. Capsules radical,
large, somewhat tetragonous, with a wing proceeding from each angle,
forming a cruciform apex, of a dull-green colour, and collected together
in dense clusters.
Grows in the arid and partly denudated prairies of Red River, where
it was first discovered by Mr. Nuttall* in 1819.
This is the second species of (Enothera figured in the present work,
and possesses considerable interest in the estimation of botanists, on
account of its curious habit and structure. To those who take no interest
except in the mere beauty of plants, nothing can be said in its
* Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil. 1821.
praise. It is not only vespertine in its inflorescence, but has an herbage
destitute of any attractive appearance. Its flowers are in themselves
sufficiently handsome, and of a very delicate hue; but as they bloom
after the sun leaves the horizon and wither before the morn, it is necessary
to examine the plant by a light, in order to see its florescence. It
appears to be hardy, enduring our winters extremely well, and in this
case becomes a biennial ? flowering in the second vernal month. It
occasionally is only annual, a circumstance for which Mr. Nuttall accounts
by supposing the disproportionate magnitude of the radical capsules
stifle the growing vigour of the plant.
Fig. 1. Represents the plant, in fruit.
2. A flower, culled an hour before sunset.
3. The same, in bloom.
4. The rotate corolla, separated.
5. A stamen.
6. A petal, with the two stamens attached.
7. Pistil and tube.
(All the size of nature.)