There are numerous kinds of Godetia, variable and difficult to
distinguish, not yet fully understood by botanists, all western and
mostly Californian, with narrow, alternate leaves and handsome flowers,
which close at night. They have four petals and resemble Onagra, but
the flowers are never yellow and the anthers are not swinging, but
fixed to the tips of the filaments by their bases; also resembling
Clarkia, but the petals are without claws. The calyx is often colored,
tube more or less funnel-form, lobes turned back, or more or less
united and turned to one side; stamens eight, unequal, the shorter ones
opposite the petals; style threadlike; stigma with four, short lobes;
capsule four-sided, or cylindrical, mostly ribbed, rather leathery,
splitting open, with four valves, containing many seeds. These plants
bloom in late spring, hence the pretty name, Farewell-to-Spring.
[Sidenote: =Farewell-to-Spring=
_Godètia defléxa_
=Pink
Summer
California=]
A branching plant, woody at base, two feet high, with smooth stems;
smooth, toothed leaves; nodding buds and large handsome flowers. The
petals are pale-pink, about an inch long, the pistil pink, and at a
distance the effect of the flower is much like a Mallow. As is usual
with Godetias, the sepals are stuck together and stand out at one side,
giving the flower a quaint effect of having thrown back a little hood
in order to look about. This grows in light shade.
[Sidenote: =Farewell-to-Spring=
_Godètia quadrivúlnera_
=Pink, lilac
Spring, summer
Northwest=]
This is common in the foothills of the Sierras and Coast Ranges and
has a slender stem, about a foot tall, with more or less downy leaves,
sometimes slightly toothed, and a few very pretty flowers, about an
inch and a half across, with bright lilac-pink petals, usually splashed
with carmine. This red spot gives a vivid effect and the delicate
flowers look exceedingly gay and charming, as they sway in the wind
among tall grasses on open hillsides.
[Sidenote: _Godètia Góddardii var. capitàta_
=Pink
Spring, summer
California=]
From one to two feet tall, with a rather stout, more or less branching
stem and soft, rather downy, dull green leaves. The flowers are about
an inch across, with purplish-pink petals, often stained with crimson
at the tips. This is found on dry hills in the Coast Ranges.
[Illustration: G. Goddardii var. capitata.
Godetia quadrivulnera.