[332]
Oenothera Fruticosa. Shrubby Oenothera.
Class and Order.
Octandria Monogynia.
Generic Character.
Calix 4-fidus. Petala 4. Capsula cylindrica infera. Semina nuda.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
OENOTHERA fruticosa foliis lanceolatis subdentatis, capsulis pedicellatis acutangulis, racemo pedunculato. Linn. Syst. Veget. ed. 14. Murr. p. 358. Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 4. L'Herit. Stirp. nov. t. 2. t. 5.
OENOTHERA florum calyce monophyllo, hinc tantum, aperto. Gron. virg. 42.
LYSIMACHIA lutea caule rubente, foliis salicis alternis nigro maculatis, flore specioso amplo, vasculo seminali eleganter striato insidente, Clayt. n. 36.
No. 332
Most of the Oenothera tribe are annual, have large yellow flowers, which open once only, and that in the evening, displaying their beauty, and exhaling their fragrance at a time which will not admit of their being much enjoyed; the present species in some respects deviates from many of the others, the root is perennial, the flowers which are large and shewy, though they open in the evening, remain expanded during most of the ensuing day; the flower-buds, the germen, and the stalk are enlivened by a richness of colour which contributes to render this species one of the most ornamental and desirable of the tribe.
It is a hardy perennial, growing to the height of three or four feet, with us altogether herbaceous, and therefore improperly called fruticosa; a native of Virginia, flowering from June to August: was cultivated in 1739 by Mr. Miller.
May be propagated by seeds, by parting of the roots, and also by cuttings.