930 LYTHRACEAE 
5. LAGERSTROEMIA L. Shrubs or trees. Leaves persistent: blades 
short. Flowers in terminal panicles. Sepals 5-7. Petals 5-7, the blades 
Asia, Africa, and Aus ralia. 
L. indica L. Small tree or shrub hi 
Suid pese leaf-blades obovate or oval, 
1-2.5 em. long, entire: sepals shorter mus 
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(CRAPE - MYRTL E na — 
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: Nat. 
eult.—Spr.-fall. —Trees are long-lived. They 
suggest premature age, but are very showy when in flower. They frequently 
sd the n. s of residences or settlements that have long ago disap- 
. The n bark peels off the trunk leaving a smooth clean surface 
S ich gives uo m a pale Sheet appearance at night. 
6. LYTHRUM L. Herbs or shrubs. Leaf-blades entire. Flowers axil- 
lary or in terminal spikes or racemes, rose-purple or white. Sepals 4-6, not 
involute, alternating with spreading appendages. Petals 4-6, nearly equal.— 
About 30 species of wide geographical distribution. Spr.-fall or all year S.— 
LOOSESTRIFES 
Leaves mostly alternate. 
Leaf-blades rounded or cordate at the base. 1. L. alatum. 
Le af- blades narrowed at the base. 
. Leaf-blades thick, es of the branches numerous, ap- 
proximate, mo ostly less than 1.5 cm. long: hypanthium 
-8 m ] 2. L. lanceolatum. 
Leaf- blades thin, those of the branches a mostly over 
ng: hypanthium 3-5 mm. 3. L. Curtissii. 
ere Sese E oM 
eat-blades a ‘or nearly so, those on the flowering 
reduced. 4, L.lineare. 
Leaf-blades ‘elliptic to orbicular or rarely cuneate, those on 
th wering branches not much reduced. . L. flagellare. 
1. L. alatum Pursh. Stem 3-13 dm. tall: leaf-blades oo ago or 
ovate-lanceolate, 1-5 em. long: mature hypanthium 5-8 mm. long, ap- 
2. L. lanceolatum Ell Stem 6-16 dm 
tall: leaf- blades zm to linear- ‘elliptic, 
ture hypanthium 
the 
cuneate- Rasen 6-7.5 mm. long: capsule 
