ely nerved, and nearly 3in.
across; the four petals are a pleasing yellowish-green at the bases;
when fully expanded they form a cross, being clear of each other; they
become tinted with rose when they begin to fade. The leaves are of
various sizes, sometimes spotted, lance-shaped, toothed, and attenuated
at the base. The general habit of the plant is erect, but it is often
procumbent; it has, from its slender stems, a light appearance, and for
one evening's use the sprays are very useful in a cut state.

[Illustration: FIG. 66. OENOTHERA SPECIOSA.

(One-sixth natural size.)]

It propagates itself freely by its root runners near the surface. These
roots may be transplanted in early spring, and they will flower the same
year.

Flowering period, June to August.

Oenothera Taraxacifolia.

DANDELION-LEAVED EVENING PRIMROSE; _Nat. Ord._
ONAGRACEAE.

From the great beauty of the flowers of this plant, it has not only
become widely distributed, but a great favourite, considering that it
was so recently introduced into this country as 1825; it came from Peru.
Fortunately this charming exotic proves perfectly hardy in our climate;
it is also herbaceous and perennial. No garden ought to be without so
easily grown a flower, and though its foliage much resembles that of the
common dandelion, a fine mass of it proves no mean setting for the large
white flowers which spring from the midst of it. Another pleasing
feature in connection with the flowers is that for a day they are pure
white, after which they partly close and turn to a scarcely less
beautiful delicate flesh tint. This colour and the half closed form are
retained for several days; it exhales a sweet odour, about which there
is a peculiarity. When newly opened--the first night--while the flowers
are white, they will be found to have a grateful scent like tea roses;
but if the older and coloured blooms are tried, they will be found to
have the refreshing smell of almonds.

There is yet another curious trait about this lovely flower--it has a
long stalk-like tube, which may be called the flower stalk, as, so to
speak, it has no other, and the lower part--it being 4in. to 6in.
long--is inclined to squareness, but near the top it becomes round and
widens into the divisions of the calyx, being, in fact, the tube or
undivided part of the calyx. Let the reader carefully examine this
interesting flower. First pluck it with all its length of stem or tube
(it may