LYTHEACEAE 827 



2. Ammannia coccinea Eottb. Plants 1-5 dm. tall: leaf -blades linear to linear- 

 lanceolate, 2-6 cm. long, partly clasping: petals broadly obovate: capsules 3-4 mm. 

 in diameter. 



In swamps and low places, Iowa to Indiana, Kansas, Florida and Texas, and through 

 Mexico and Central America to Brazil. Summer and fall. 



3. Ammannia latifolia L. Plants 2-11 dm. tall: leaf -blades linear-oblong to 

 linear-lanceolate, mostly 3-7 cm. long, slightly auricled and clasping at the base: 

 petals wanting: capsules 3—4 mm. in diameter. 



In swamps and low grounds, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in 

 Tropical America. All year. 



4. Ammannia auriculata Willd. Plants 0.5-2.5 dm. tall: leaf -blades oblong to 



linear-lanceolate, 1-3 cm. long, partly clasping: petals broadly spatulate: capsules 



2-2.5 mm. in diameter. 



About ponds and swamps, Nebraska to Texas, New Mexico and throughout Central 

 America to Brazil. Spring and summer. 



3. ROT ALA L. 



Herbs resembling Ammannia. Leaf -blades narrow, entire. Flowers usually soli- 

 tary in the axils. Sepals 4, very small, alternating with minute teeth. Petals usually 

 4. Stamens 4. Style very short. 



1. Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne. Stems 0.5-4 dm. long: leaf -blades oblong 

 to linear or spatulate, 1-3 cm. long: sepals acute: petals minute: capsules 2.5-3.5 mm. 

 in diameter. 



In swamps, about ditches and in wet sand, Massachusetts to Nebraska, Florida, Texas 

 and Mexico. Also on the Pacific slope and in South America. Summer and fall. 



4. HEIMIA Link & Otto. 



Partially woody herbs. Leaf -blades narrow, entire. Flowers solitary, on short 

 axillary peduncles. Sepals 6, alternating with spreading teeth. Petals 6. Stamens 

 12, nearly equal. Capsule 4-celled, 



1. Heimia salicifolia (H. B. K.) Link & Otto. Plants 0.5-2 m. tall: leaf -blades 

 narrowly oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2^ cm. long: sepals triangular: petals yellow, 

 obovate or orbicular-obovate, 6-10 mm. long: capsules obovoid, 5 mm. long. 



Along streams, southern Texas. 



5. DECODON J. F. Gmel. 



Aquatic shrubs. Leaves deciduous: blades entire, relatively long. Flowers in 

 axillary peduncled cymes. Sepals 5-7, alternating with small teeth. Petals 5-7. 

 Stamens 10 or rarely 8, alternating short and long, the longer ones exserted. Capsule 

 loculicidally 3-6-valved. 



1. Decodon verticillktus (L.) Ell. Stems arching, mostly 4-16 dm. long: leaf- 

 blades lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 3-20 cm. long: sepals acuminate: petals purple, 

 lanceolate to ovate, 7-9 mm. long: capsules about 5 mm. in diameter. 



In swamps and lakes, Massachusetts to Ontario, Minnesota, Florida and Louisiana. 

 Summer. Swamp Loosesteife. 



6. LAGERSTROEMIA L. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves persistent: blades short. Flowers in terminal panicles. 

 Sepals 6. Petals 6, the blades crisped. Stamens numerous. Capsule loculicidally 3-6- 

 valved. 



1. Lagerstroemia Indica L. A shrub or small tree: leaf -blades obovate or oval, 

 1-2.5 cm. long, entire: sepals shorter than the hypanthium: petals purple, pink or 

 nearly white, the blades crisped: capsules oval-globose, 8-9 mm. long. 



In waste places, in and near gardens, widely cultivated and sparingly naturalized, 

 from Maryland to Florida and Texas. Spring to fall. 



