574 



LYTHRACE^. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Order CCXVIII. LYTHRACE^.— Loosestrifes. 



Salicariae, Juss. Gen. 330. (1789); Lindl. Symps. 71 ; Aug. de St. H. Ann. Sc. Nat. 2. ser. 1. p. 1. and 

 333.— Calycanthemae, Vent. Tabl. 3. 298. (1799).— Salicarinae, Link Entim. 1. 142.— Lj^thrariae, 

 Juss. Diet. Sc. Nat. 27. 453. ; VC. Prodr. 3. 75 ; Endl. Gen. cclxvii. ; Meisner Gen. p. 117. 



Diagnosis. — Saxifragal £xoge7is, with consolidated styles, a tubidar permanent calyx with 

 the petals in the margin, opposite leaves, and no albumen. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs. Branches frequently 4-eornerecl. Leaves opposite, seldom 

 alternate, entire, without either stipules or glands, sometimes with glandular dots. 



Flowers soUtary or clustered, 

 regular or irregular, axillary 

 or in terminal spikes or ra- 

 cemes, in consequence of the 

 depauperation of the upper 

 leaves. Calyx monosepalous, 

 tubular, ribbed, often oblique, 

 the lobes with a valvate or 

 separate testivation, their si- 

 nuses sometimes lengthened 

 into other lobes. Petals in- 

 serted between the outer 

 lobes of the calyx, very de- 

 ciduous, sometimes wanting. 

 Stamens inserted into the 

 tube of the calyx below the 

 petals, to which they are 

 sometimes equal in number ; 

 sometimes twice, or even fom' 

 times as numerous ; anthers 

 adnate, 2-celled, opening lon- 

 gitudinally. Ovary superior, 

 2-6-celled, occasionally only 

 1 -celled; o%Tales 00, rarely 

 definite, ascending or hori- 

 zontal, anatropal, attached 

 to axile or dissepimental 

 placentae, having a central 

 origin ; style filiform ; stigma 

 usually capitate. Capsule 

 membranous, covered by the 

 calyx, dehiscent. Seeds nu- 

 merous, small, without albu- 

 men, adhering to a central 

 placenta ; embryo straight ; 

 radicle tm'ned towards the 

 hilum ; cotyledons roimdish, 

 flat, and leafy. 



The true place of this Or- 

 der has been the subject of 

 much difference of opinion. 

 A writer in the Linncea (14. 

 254) refers it \\athout any 

 doubt to the A-icinity of House- 

 leeks (Crassulacese). In some 

 respects the Order resembles 

 Onagrads, from which the 

 superior ovary and many- 

 ribbed calyx distinguish it; 

 also ISIelastomads, from 

 which the superior ovary, the veining of the leaves, and the aestivation of the stamens 

 divide it. With Labiates it has often a sunilarity in habit, but this goes no further. 

 A resemblance to Spindle-trees is established by the genus Adenaria. Endlicher even 



Fig. CCCLXXXIX.— Diplusodon arborens. 



Fig. CCCLXXXIX. 



