Oenothera
(from oinos, wine, and thera, a hunt or eager pursuit; an old Greek name given by Theophrastus to some plant, probably an Epilobium, the roots of which were eaten to provoke a relish for wine). Evening Primrose. Including Godetia, Hartmannia and Sphaerostigma. ORD. Onagrarieae. A genus comprising about 100 species of herbs or small shrubs, of variable habit, natives of extra-tropical north and north-western South America, one being Tasmanian; a few of the American species are naturalised over the warmer regions of the globe. Flowers yellow, pink, or purple, usually large and showy, solitary, axillary, sessile, or pedunculate; petals four, scarcely clawed, obovate or obcordate. Leaves membranous, sessile or petiolate, entire, dentate, lobed, or pinnatifid. All the undermentioned species are most desirable plants for summer and early autumnal flowering, and are of very easy culture in any rather sandy soil. Many of the species and varieties are amongst the most beautiful and attractive of hardy plants; their flowers are large, showy, and pleasingly fragrant. The plants are most suitable for the margins of shrubberies, mixed borders, and similar situations, preferably in warm, sunny positions. Propagation is easily effected by divisions in early spring; or by seed, sown in spring for flowering the same year, or in July for treating as biennials. Cuttings of the perennial species may also be inserted in pots, and placed in a cool frame, in the early part of the season, before flowering begins. Perennial, except where otherwise specified. OE. acaulis (stemless).* fl. white, fading into red, large, with obovate, rather retuse, entire petals. May to September. l. rosulate, pinnatifid; the terminal lobe large and denticulated. h. 6in. Chili, 1821. (B. R. 763, under name of Godetia acaulis.) OE. albicaulis (white-stemmed). fl. white, becoming pinkish as they grow older, few, axillary; petals obcordate, large, as long as the tube. June. l. linear to oblong-lanceolate, sessile, or alternate at base, or abruptly petioled, entire, or repand-denticulate, or sinuate-pinnatifid towards the base. Stems decumbent. h. 6in. to 12in. California, &c. SYN. OE. pallida (B. R. 1142). (R. G. 1041.) OE. amoena (pleasing).* fl. rose, with four crimson spots. Summer. l. linear-lanceolate, entire. Stem ascending, diffuse, branched. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North-west America, 1826. Annual. (B. M. 2832, under name of OE. Lindleyi.) OE. a. rubicunda (ruddy).* fl. lilac-purple, having a deep-coloured blotch at the base of each petal. h. 2ft. California, 1834. Plant erect. One of the best, and the parent of several varieties including a handsome lilac and crimson-flowered form known as "The Bride." (B. R. 1856, under name of Godetia rubicunda.) OE. anisoloba (unequal-lobed). fl. white, becoming red as they fade, large, with a very long tube; petals imbricated, with crenulated margins. May to October. l., radical ones elliptic, entire or few-toothed; middle ones elliptic, sharply toothed, segments at base variable; upper ones unequal, pinnatifid. Stem suffruticose. h. 3ft. Chiloe, 1828. (B. R. 1479.) OE. biennis (biennial).* Common Evening Primrose. fl. pale yellow, large, delicately fragrant, with broadly obcordate petals. Summer and autumn. l., radical ones oblong-lanceolate, cauline ones ovate-lanceolate, toothed, pubescent. Stem erect, branched. h. 2ft. to 4ft. North America. Biennial. One of the commonest species, of which the variety known as grandiflora, or Lamarckiana has larger and finer flowers.
OE. bifrons (two-faced). fl. yellow, large, handsome, sessile, solitary, axillary; petals roundish, much puckered. Autumn. l. alternate, nearly glabrous, semi-amplexicaul; lower ones ovate, acuminate; upper ones smaller. Stem nearly erect, green, often tinged with purple. h. 1 1/2ft. Texas, 1835. Biennial. (B. M. 3764.) OE. bistorta Veitchiana (twisted-fruited, Veitch's).* fl. solitary in the axils of the leaves and bracts; petals full yellow, with small, deep, blood-coloured spots at base, spreading. Summer. fr. 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, twisting with maturity. l. rather distant; lower ones shortly petiolate, lanceolate; upper ones broader and sessile. Stems simple or branched, sub-decumbent. South California. Annual. (B. M. 5078.) OE. caespitosa (tufted). fl., petals pinkish-white, large, profoundly obcordate. June. l. lanceolate, inciso-dentate. h. 1ft. North America, 1811. Plant almost stemless. (B. M. 1593.) OE. californica (Californian).* fl. varying from white to pale pink, with yellowish centre, 1 1/2in. to 3in. in diameter, opening at night, very fragrant. July. Stems often 2ft. long, from an elongated, horizontal rootstock. A near ally of OE. albicaulis.
OE. cardiophylla (heart-leaved). fl. yellow, funnel-shaped, disposed in loose terminal racemes; tube about 2in. long; limb 1in. across. l. cordate, toothed. Stems 1ft. high. California, 1883.
OE. choiranthifolia (Wallflower-leaved). fl. yellow, small, sessile. July. l. sessile, spathulate, obtuse, almost entire, villous. Stem much branched, ascendent, hirsute. h. 1ft. Chili, 1823. Annual. (B. R. 1040.) OE. eximia (choice).* fl. white, 4in. in diameter, with very long and slender calyx tubes. July. l. numerous, lanceolate, pubescent. Root fusiform. h. 9in. to 12in. Rocky Mountains of Upper California, 1870. A magnificent dwarf-growing species. (B. M. 5828, under name of OE. marginata.) OE. fruticosa (shrubby). fl. deep yellow, large, with broadly obcordate, erose petals; racemes spicate, leafy, rather naked at base. June to September. l. ovate-lanceolate, denticulated. Stems erect, branched at the apex. h. 2ft. to 3ft. United States, 1737. (B. M. 332.) OE. f. ambigua (ambiguous). fl. rather pale yellow, at first corymbose, afterwards racemose, large for the size of the plant. July. (B. M. 3545.) OE. glauca (glaucous).* fl. pale yellow, large, with obcordate, erose petals. June to October. l. ovate, repandly toothed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. United States, 1812. Plant quite glabrous, decumbent, glaucous. (B. M. 1606.) OE. g. Fraseri (Fraser's).* fl. yellow, with obcordate petals, which are broad, and erosely undulated. June to October. l. ovate, glandularly denticulated. Stem simple at the base. h. 1ft. South Carolina, 1811. (B. M. 1674.) OE. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. yellow; petals profoundly obcordate, distant, short. July. l. ovate-lanceolate, remotely toothed. h. 2ft. North America, 1778. Biennial. (B. M. 2068.) OE. Lindleyi (Lindley's). A synonym of OE. amoena.
OE. linearis (narrow).* fl. yellow, scarcely fragrant, corymbosely disposed on the tops of the branches. Summer. l. linear, or narrow-lanceolate, rather blunt, remotely toothed or entire, sometimes linear-oblong, tapering at the base, and slightly stalked. Stem slender, often branched. h. 10in. to 18in. United States.
OE. macrocarpa (large-fruited). A synonym of OE. missouriensis latifolia. OE. marginata (margined). A synonym of OE. eximia.
OE. missouriensis (Missouri). fl. yellow, large, with broadly obcordate petals; calyx spotted with red. June to August. l. lanceolate, quite entire, or glandularly denticulated, with the margins and nerves covered with white silky down. Stem simple, prostrate, downy. United States, 1811. (B. M. 1592.) OE. m. latifolia (broad-leaved).* A fine form, with broader leaves than the type. (S. B. F. G. 5, under name of OE. macrocarpa.) OE. odorata (fragrant). fl. at first yellow, becoming reddish as they fade, with deeply obcordate petals. April and May. l. lanceolate, a little toothed, undulately curled. Stems branched, suffruticose at the base. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Patagonia, 1790. Biennial.
OE. o. virescens (greenish). fl. yellow; sepals unguiculate at back; petals obcordate, entire. June. l. linear-lanceolate, slightly toothed, undulately crisped. h. 2ft. South America, 1790. Biennial. (B. M. 2403, B. R. 147, and H. E. F. 183, under name of OE. odorata Betta.) OE. odorata Betta (fragrant), of Sims. A synonym of OE. o. virescens. OE. pallida (pale).* fl., petals white, yellow at base, becoming reddish as they fade. June to September. l. linear-lanceolate, acuminated, quite entire or toothed, glabrous. Stems ascending, branched. h. 1 1/2ft. North America, 1826. (B. R. 1142.) OE. pallida (pale), of Douglas. A synonym of OE. albicaulis. OE. pumila (dwarf). fl. yellow, large. July. l. oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, sub-sessile, entire, yellow. Stem branched. h. 6in. North America, 1757. (B. M. 355.) OE. purpurea (purple). fl. purple; calyx tube short; petals broadly obovate, crenulate. June. l. lanceolate, attenuated at both ends. h. 1ft. North America, 1794. Annual. (B. M. 352.) OE. riparia (river-bank). fl. yellow, small, sub-spicate, on short pedicels, and with emarginate petals. Summer. l. lanceolate, denticulated. Stems erect, nearly glabrous. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America.
OE. Romanzovii (Romanzow's). fl. violaceous; petals broadly obovate, crenulate. Summer. l. lanceolate-oblong, mucronate, attenuated to the petioles. Stem erect, glaucous. h. 1ft. North America, 1817. (B. R. 562, under name of Godetia Romanzovii.) OE. rosea (rosy). fl. pink; petals somewhat round-obovate. June. l. ovate, attenuated at both ends, toothed; lower ones lyrate. h. 1ft. Mexico, &c., 1783. Half-hardy. (B. M. 347.) OE. speciosa (showy).* fl. white, becoming reddish as they fade, sub-racemose, with obcordate petals; raceme naked, at first drooping. March to September. l. oblong-lanceolate, attenuated at both ends, serrated and somewhat pinnatifid, pubescent beneath. Stem suffruticose. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1821. OE. taraxacifolia (Dandelion-leaved).* fl. white, becoming reddish as they fade, with large, obovate, entire petals, and a very long tube. Summer. l. pubescent, alternate, interruptedly pinnatifid, sinuately toothed, but the apex entire. Stem branched, elongated, procumbent. h. 6in. Chili, 1825. (S. B. F. G. 294.) OE. tenella (delicate). fl. purple. June. l. linear-spathulate. Stem branched, erect. h. 6in. to 9in. Chili, 1823. Plant rather glaucous. Annual. (B. M. 2424.) G. tenuifolia is very closely allied to this species. OE. triloba (three-lobed). fl. pale yellow, very fragrant in the evening; petals obovate, slightly three-lobed at the apex, the middle lobe mucronate. May to September. l. interruptedly pinnatifid, toothed. h. 3in. to 6in. North America, 1822. Annual. (B. M. 2565.) OE. vinosa (wine-stained). fl., petals nearly white, with a slight dash of purple; calyx tube not more than one-third the length of the limb. July and August. l. linear-oblong, sub-dentate, glabrous. h. 2ft. California, 1835. Hardy annual. (B. R. 1880, under name of Godetia vinosa.) OE. Whitneyi (Whitney's).* fl. very numerous, crowded, 3in. to 4in. in diameter, rosy-red, blotched with crimson. Summer. l. oblong-lanceolate. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. California, 1870. Annual. SYN. Godetia grandiflora (B. R. 28, 61). (B. M. 5867.) There are several varieties of this fine species, including concolor (white), nammea (crimson), and flammea striata (crimson-striped). Varieties. Of hardy annuals, few are more beautiful than than some of the garden varieties of Enothera, which are much better known under the familiar name of Godetia. They are very attractive in mixed borders, especially if sown in masses, and are also most effective when grown in pots for greenhouse decoration. The following are amongst the best in cultivation: Duchess of Albany. fl. of a beautiful satiny-white, sometimes 4in. across. Plant of pyramidal growth, very floriferous, and extra good. Lady Albemarle. fl. crimson, showy, and distinct. Plant dwarf and branching; very beautiful.
Lady Satin Rose. fl. beautiful rose. Habit similar to LADY ALBEMARLE. A brilliant-coloured and good variety.
Princess of Wales. fl. ruby-crimson. A good, rather old, variety, rather taller growing than either of the preceding.
The Bride. fl. white and carmine. Very free flowering and pretty.