340 A FLORA OF MANILA 
elongated; stigma 5- to T-lobed. Fruit fleshy, pyriform, many-seeded. 
(From the Mexican name nopalnochotzli.) 
Species about 3, in tropical America, 1 now introduced in most other 
tropical countries. 
1. N. COCHINELIFERA (Mill.) Salm-Dyck. Dilang-baca (Tag.); Cochineal 
Plant. 
A fleshy, erect, branched, leafless plant 1 to 3 m high, the stems 
stout. Joints thick, oblong-obovate, green, fleshy, compressed, 15 to 25 . 
em long, with few, small, scattered, white, cushion-like bodies which are 
unarmed or bear small spines. Flowers scattered, solitary on the upper 
margins of the uppermost joints. Calyx green, oblong-ovoid, 3 to 3.5 
em long, fleshy, bearing areolae, these usually with small bristles. Corolla 
about 2.5 em long. Petals several-seriate, red, the inner series gradually 
longer, but shorter than the exserted, red stamens. Fruit ovoid, purplish, 
fleshy, about 3.5 cm long, top much depressed. 
Occasionally cultivated, fl. Nov.-May. A native of tropical America, 
introduced here, cultivated and in some localities subspontaneous. 
97. LYTHRACEAE (HENNA OR BANABA FAMILY) 
Herbs, shrubs, or trees, the branches often 4-angled. Leaves entire, 
opposite, alternate, or whorled. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, the 
flowers solitary, fascicled, spicate, cymose, or panicled. Flowers perfect, 
regular. Calyx-tube free, persistent, 3- to 6-lobed, lobes often appendic- 
ulate. Petals as many as the calyx-lobes, rarely none. Stamens few or 
many, inserted on the calyx-tube. Ovary free in the bottom of the calyx- 
tube, 2- to 6-celled; ovules many. Fruit coriaceous or membranaceous, 
dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds usually many, various. 
Genera 22, species 450, widely distributed in the tropics, especially 
in America, few in temperate or cold countries, 5 genera and about 14 
species in the Philippines. 
1. Trees or shrubs. 
2; Flowers: ismall,44merotesie!s...3. 0008 (aie lee Se 6 be 1. Lawsonia 
2. Flowers large, 6-merous.............................--- HN ot ateeAe 2. Lagerstroemia 
1. Low herbs with minute flowers. 
3. Walls of the capsules densely horizontally striate under a lens. 
3. Rotala 
3. Walls of the capsules not striate.......0022..22200.2.2.2 eee 4. Ammania 
1. LAWSONIA Linnaeus 
An erect shrub or small tree, the older branches sometimes spinous. 
Leaves opposite, entire. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, the bracts small, 
deciduous. Flowers rather small, 4-merous, numerous. Calyx-tube very 
short, the lobes 4, ovate. Petals 4, obovate, inserted at the top of the 
calyx-tube. Stamens usually 8, inserted in pairs between the petals, 
sometimes fewer or more and not paired. Ovary free, sessile, 2- to 
4-celled; style very long. Capsule coriaceous, globose, irregularly breaking 
up. Seeds many, angular, smooth. (In honor of Dr. J. Lawson, a Scotch 
friend of Linnaeus.) 
A monotypic genus. 
1. L. INERMIS L. Cinamomo (Sp.-Fil.) ; Henna. 
An erect, much-branched shrub 3 to 6 m high. Leaves oblong-elliptic, 
4 
