134 LYTHRACEyE. (t,OOSP:STIUFE FAMILY.) 



2. AMMANNIA, Houston. 



Calyx globular or cam])iinul;itc, 4-anglc(], 4-tootlR'(l, the sinuses commonly 

 funiislied with a small horn-shaped appendage. Petals 4, small, deciduous, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens 4, short. Stigma capitate. Capsule glol)ular, 

 4-celled, many-seeded. — Low smooth annual herbs, with oppof^itc leaves, and 

 solitary or clustered axillary flowers. 



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

 tapering into a petiole ; 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, Midix) — Ditches and muddy places, Florida 

 to Mississippi, and northward. August and September. — Stem G'- 12' iiigh. 



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

 base ; leaves lanceolate, naiTOWcd into a petiole ; flowers solitary, aj^ctalous ; 

 calyx 8-toothed. 



Var. pygmsea. Stem very short (i'-l' long); sinuses of the calyx ap- 

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

 Blodyeit. — 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 ])etals, or twice as many, in- 

 serted on the lower part of the calyx, nearly cfpial. Capsule oblong, 2-cellcd, 

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

 whitish flowers. 



1. L. alatum, Pursh. Smooth; stem and virgate 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 whorled, the ujipermost 

 twice as long as the calyx. (L. laneeolatum, Ell.) — Swamps 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 ; petals and stamens 6. — Brackish 

 marshes, Florida and northward. August. — Stem 2°-40 higii. Calyx-teeth 

 short. 



4. NES^A, Commerson. 



Calyx hemispherical or camjinnulate, with 4-7 erect 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. — Perennial herbs 

 or shrubby plants, with opposite or whorled leaves, and clustered pedicelled 

 flowers in their axils. 



1. N. vertieillata, H. B.K. Shrubby ; stems pubescent, recurved ; leaves 

 opposite and whorled, lanceolate, tomcntose beneath ; peduncles short, 3 or 



