50 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



cept the stinging hairs of some species. Only two genera of the 

 order in this country, and one in this State. 



Centaurella. Mx. 4. 1. 



C. paniculata. Mx. Screw Stem. Stem 4-8 inches high, 

 square, slender, somewhat twisted, branched, smooth ; leaves 

 minute, subulate, alternate below ; flowers small, greenish-white, 

 on the ends of the branches ; grows in meadows, and blossoms in 

 August. 



ORDER 52. SALICARIiE. Loosestrife Tribe. 



Monosepalous divided calyx, with petals between the divisions, 

 deciduous, or wanting ; stamens rise from the side of the tube of 

 the calyx below the petals, and from 1 to 4 times as many ; style 

 filiform, rising from the ovary, superior ; generally herbaceous, 

 with branches often 4-sided ; flowers axillary, or in terminal 

 spikes or racemes ; leaves usually opposite. The properties 

 are strangely diverse, astringent, vulnerary, venereal, diuretic, 

 vesicatory, coloring, and dyeing. Belongs to temperate regions. 



Lythrum. L. 11. 1. 



L. verticillatum. L. Swamp Willow Herb. Stem 2 feet 

 high, rather woody towards the base, with opposite lanceolate 

 leaves, or in threes, and fine purple spreading corolla of 5 or 6 

 petals on the calyx ; blossoms in August, and grows in swamps ; 

 often called Grass-poly, and is a fine plant ; short-lived flowers. 



L. salicaria. Ph. Willow-leafed. Supposed to be a rare 

 plant, but has been found near New Bedford. 



L. hyssopi folium. L. Hyssop-leafed. Has a stem a foot or 

 more high ; in low grounds ; flowers purple ; handsome. 



Ammannia. L. 4. 1. 



A. humulis. Mx. A procumbent plant, with nearly sessile 

 leaves, tapering at the base, and with small, red, sessile flowers, in 



