onagrarieæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. The evening-primrose family, an order of dicotyledonous polypetalous plants, of the cohort Myrtales, typified by the genus Œnothera, and characterized by the two- to four-celled ovary coherent with the valvate calyx, the two to four petals, one to eight stamens, and undivided style. It includes about 330 species, of 23 genera, scattered through all temperate regions. They are odorless herbs. rarely woody, bearing thin opposite or alternate undivided leaves, and axillary or racemed flowers often of showy colors. The more euphonious form, Onagraceæ. employed by Lindley, is still much in use. See cut under Œnothera.