240 ONAGRACEAE. 



Stamens 4-8, inserted on the calyx-tube; filaments 

 slender or short. Ovary enclosed in the calyx-tube, 

 nearly globose, 2-4-celled, bursting irregularly. 



1. A. coccinea Rottb. Erect, glabrous, branching below, 15-45 

 cm. high; leaves linear lanceolate, all obtusely cordate, auriculate, 

 dilated at the somewhat clasping base, acuminate or acute at the 

 apex, entire, 2.5-7.5 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad; flowers 1-5 in each 

 axil, sessile or nearly so; petals purple, fugacious; style very slender, 

 more than half the length of the capsule. 



Soldiers Home, Hasse. 



2. LYTHRUM L. 



Herbs or shrubs with 4-angled stems, opposite, alter- 

 nate or rarely verticillate entire leaves, and solitary 

 cymose-paniculate and terminal flowers. Calyx-tube 

 cylindric, 8-12-ribbed, with 4-6 primary teeth and as 

 many accessory ones in the sinuses. Petals 4-6, rarely 

 wanting. Stamens 8-12, inserted on the calyx-tube. 

 Capsule enclosed by the calyx, membranous, 2-celled, 

 2-valved or bursting irregularly. Seeds flat or angular. 



1. L. calif ornicum T. & G. Stems erect from a perennial stoloni- 

 ferous root, simple below, paniculately branched above; lower leaves 

 lanceolate, the upper and floral linear, acute at apex, tapering below 

 to a sessile base; calyx with 12 striae and very short teeth; stamens 

 not at all exserted and the style elongated, or the stamens much 

 exserted and exceeding the short style. 



Common in damp ground along streams, both in the valleys and 

 mountains. July-October. 



Family 72. ONAGRACEAE. Evening- 

 primrose Family. 



Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, with alter- 

 nate or opposite leaves, no stipules or mere glands in 

 their places, and axillary spicate or racemose, generally 

 perfect regular or sometimes irregular flowers. Calyx- 

 tube adnate to the ovary, often prolonged beyond, the 

 limb 2-6-lobed, usually 4-lobed. Petals 2-9, mostly 4, 

 convolute in the bud, rarely none. Stamens commonly 

 as many or twice as many as the petals and inserted 

 with them on the summit of the calyx-tube, or on the 

 epigynous or perigynous disk. Ovary 1-6-celled, usually 



