58 



Affinities. Distinguished from Onagrariae by their unilocular ovaria and 

 indefinite Btamens, part of which are sterile ; and perhaps by the latter cha- 

 racter, and the additional 5 petals, connected with Passiflorese, with which they 

 also sometimes accord in habit. Their rigid stinging hairs, cbmbing habit, and 

 lobed leaves, resemble those of some Urticea?, with which, however, they have 

 nothing more of importance in common. On the same account they may be 

 compared with Cucurbitaceae, with which they further agree in their inferior 

 unilocular fruit, with parietal placentae, and in the very generally yellow colour of 

 their flowers. This, indeed, is the order with which, upon the whole, Loaseae 

 must be considered to have the closest affinity. Eschscholtzia, referred here 

 by Decandolle, belongs to Papaveraceae. 



Geography. All American, and chiefly from the more temperate regions, 

 or the tropics, of either hemisphere. 



Properties. Excepting the stinging properly which resides in the hairs 

 of some species, nothing is known of the qualities of these plants. 



Examples. Loasa, Mentzelia. 



LII. SALICARLE. The Loosestrife Tribe. 



Salicaki*!, Juss. Gen. 330. (1739); Lindl. Synops. 71. (1829.)— Calycanthemje, Vent. Tab.3. 

 298. (1799).— Salicarin^, LinkEnum. 1. 142. (1821).— Lythbari^e^uss. Diet. Sc. i\at. 

 27. 453. (1823) ; Dec. Prodr. 3. 75. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with perigynous stamens, concrete 

 carpella, a superior ovarium with several cells, and a tubular short-toothed ca- 

 lyx, which covers the capsule. 



Anomalies. Occasionally apetalous. 



Essential Character. — Calyx monosepalous, the lobes with a valvate or separate aestiva- 

 tion, their sinuses sometimes lengthened into other lobes. Petals inserted between the lobes 

 of the calyx, very deciduous, sometimes wanting'. Stamens inserted into the tube of the 

 culyx below the petals, to which they are sometimes equal in number ; sometimes they are 

 twice, or even thrice, and four times as numerous; they arc seldom four; anthers adnate, 

 2-cellcd, opening' longitudinally. Ovarium superior,2- or 4-celled ; style filiform ; stigma usual- 

 ly capitate. Capsule membranous, covered by the calyx, usually 1-celled, dehiscing either 

 longitudinally or in an irregular manner. Seeds numerous, small, without albumen, adher- 

 ing to a centra] placenta; embryo straight; radicle turned towards the hilum : cotyledons 

 flat and leafy. — Herbs, rarely shrubs. Brandies frequently 4-cornercd. Leaves opposite, seldom 

 alternate, em ire. without cither stipula; or glands. Flowers axillary, or in terminal spikes or 

 racemes, in consequence of the depauperation of the upper leaves. 



Affinities. Very near Onagrarire, from which their superior ovarium and 

 many-ribbed calyx distinguish them ; also Melastomacea;, from which their 

 superior ovarium, the veining of their leaves, and the aestivation of the sta- 

 mens divide them. With Labiates they have often a striking resemblance in 

 habit, but this goes no further. 



M. Decandolle admits the two following tribes : 



1. § Salicariae, Mem. Soc. II JY. Gcncv. 3. p. 2. 71.: Prodr. 3. 75. 



(1S28.) 



Lobes of the calyx more or less distant in aestivation, or somewhat val- 

 vate. Petals several, alternate with the lobes of the calyx, and arising from 

 between them at the orifice of the tube; sometimes wanting. Stamens aris- 

 ing from lower down the tube. Seeds apterous. — Shrubs or herbaceous plants. 

 Dec. 



