LYTHRACE^. 131 DECODON, 



Ora.— Superior, enclosed in the calyx tube, 2 — 4-celled. Styles united into one. 

 Fr. — Capsule membranous, enveloped in the calyx, usually by abortion 1-celled. 

 &is. — Small, numerous, attached to a central placenta. Albumen 0. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs, with square branches, usually opposite and destitute of either stip- 

 ules or glands. Some of the species are found in temperate climes, but most of them- are 

 tropical. Lytlirum Salicaria, native of Europe,- N. Holland and U. S., is used lor tanning 

 whore it abounds. Ajl the species are astringent. 



Genera. 



Calyx bell-shaped, intermediate teeth none, Ammannia. 1 



Calyx cylindnc, intermediate teeth minute, ....... Lythrmn. 2 



Calyx short, intermediate teetlv long, horn-like, spreading . . . Decodoii. 3 



1. AMMA'NNIA. 



Calyx tubular, 4 — 5-toothed, campanulate ; stamens 4 — 8j. 

 capsule 2 — 4-celled, many-seeded. 



Named for John Ammann, native of Siberia and professor of Botany at St. 

 Petersburg.— Herbs of no beauty. Cal. plaited. Cor. 4-petaled, inserted in 

 the calyx or often 0. Sta. seldom 8. 



A. HU'milis. Mz. a. ramosior. i.. 



Stevi procumbent; leaves lanceolate, narrow at the base; fiowers solitary,- 

 axillary, sessile. A small marsh plant, half a foot in hight. Flowers purplish.- 

 Aug. Sept. Low Ammannia. 



fi. Leaves broadest at base, half-clasping. Flowers inclose bunches in low-, 

 er axils, solitary above. 



2. LYTHRUM. 

 Calyx cylindric, striate, 8 — 12-toothed, alternate ones mi- 

 nute ; petals 4 — 6, equal ; stamens as many, or twice as many 

 as the petals; style 1; capsule 2'ceiled, many-seeded. 



Gr. XvSqov, black-blood ; in allusion to the color of the flower. Petals ob- 

 long, with short claws. Filaments shorter than cor. the 6 alternate ones short- 

 er, or wanting. Caps, pointed, enclosed in the tube of the calyx. Seeds 

 many. — Herbs. 



1. L, hyssopifo'lium. 



Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate ; /wcfrs axillary, solitary, hexandrous-. 

 A slender, weedy plant, found in low grounds, dried beds of ponds, &c. Stems 

 C — 10 inches high, erect, with spreading branches. Leaves sessile, obtuse, 

 alternate. Flowers small, axillary, sessile, pale-purple. Calyx segments 

 Bmall, 12. Stamens G. Autumn. Ann. Grass-poly. 



2. L. Salica'ria. 



Leaves lanceolate, cordate at base ; foicers nearly sessile, in a long spike ; 

 petals purple. Wet meadows, rare. Flowers large, with 4—6 petals. The 

 plant is quite ornamental and is sometimes cultivated. It is remarkable for 

 being the only species of this order yet discovered in New Holland. June, 

 •'"'y- • Loose-strife. 



3. DE'CODON. 

 Calyx short, 10-toothed. the alternate ones cornufe, spread' 



