134 LYTIIUACIwE. (loosestrife FAMILY.) 



2. AMMANNIA, Houston. 



Calyx globular or campanulatc, 4-angled, 4-toothecl, the sinu«es commonly 

 fomished with a small liora-shapcd appendage. Petals 4, small, deciduous, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens 4, short. Stigma capitate. Capsule glolmlar, 

 4-celled, many-soided. — Low smooth annual herbs, with opposite leaves, and 

 solitary or dusteixd axillary fiowei-s. 



1. A. humilis, Michx. Stem branching from the base ; leaves lanceolate, 

 tapering into a jjctiole ; flowers solitary ; style very short ; petals 4, purplish. — 

 Varies with the leaves dilated and somewhat cordate at the base, and the lower 

 flowers clustered. (A. ramosior, Michx ) — Ditches and muddy places, Florida 

 to Mississi])i)i, and northward. August and September. — Stem 6'- 12' high. 



2. A. OCCidentalis, DC- Stem nearly simple, ascending, rooting at the 

 base ; leaves lanceolate, narrowed into a petiole ; flowers solitary, apetaious ; 

 calyx 8-tootlied. 



Var. pygmSBa. Stem very short {h'-l' long); sinuses of the calyx ap- 

 pcndaged, emarginate, as long as the teeth ; style short. — Key West, Dr. 

 Blodjett. — Leaves obtuse. Stem 1 - 6-flowered. " 



3. LYTHRUM, L. Loosestrife. 



Calyx cylindrical, striate, 4 - 7-toothed, usually with minute appendages in the 

 sinuses. Petals 4-7. Stamens as many as the petals, or twice as many, in- 

 serted on the lower part of the calyx, nearly equal. Capsule oblong, 2-ccllcd, 

 many-seeded. — Herbs, with opposite or alternate leaves, and axillary purple or 

 whitish flowers. 



1. L. alatum, Pursli. Smooth; stem and virgato branches 4-angled; 

 leaves lanceolate, acute at both ends, opposite, the uppermost alternate, and 

 shorter than the flowers ; petals and stamens 6. — Varies with branches shorter, 

 leaves larger (2' long), broadly lanceolate, sometimes whorlcd, the uj)i)i>rinost 

 twice as long as the calyx. (L. lanceolatum. Ell.) — Swam])s and river-banks, 

 Florida and northward. July- September. — Stem 2° -4° high. Flowers 

 violet-purple. 



2. L. lineare, L. Smooth ; stem 4-anglcd, much branched ; leaves all 

 opposite, linear ; flowers small, whitish ; jx'tals and stamens 6. — Brackish 

 marshes, Florida and northward. August — Stem 2° - 4° high. Calyx-teeth 

 short. 



4. NESJEA, Commerson. 



Calyx hemisphorical or campanulatc, with 4-7 eirct teeth, and as many longer 

 and spreading horn-like appendages in the sinuses. Petals 4-7. Stamens 

 twice as many as the petals. Capsule globose, 3 -4-celled. — Pen'nnial herbs 

 or shnibby pl.ints, with oj)positc or whorled leaves, and elustcnd pidicelled 

 flowers in their axils. 



1. N. verticillata, II.IVIC Slimliby; stems pubescent, recurved; len\TS 

 oj)posite and whorled, lanceolate, tomentose beneath ; peduncles slioit, 3 or 



