LYTHRACE.^. 115 



as many, or 2 — 4 times as many as the petals, inserted into the 

 tube of the calyx. Ovary superior, 1 — 6-celled; style filiform; 

 stigma usually capitate. Capsule membranous, covered by the 

 calyx, dehiscent. Seeds numerous, small, without albumen. — 

 Herbs, rarely shrubs. Leaves opposite, seldom alternate, en- 

 tire. Flowers axillary, or in terminal spikes or racemes. 



1, AMMANNIA. Linn. — Ammannia. 

 (Li honor of John Ammann, a Russian botanist of the last century.) 



Calyx 4 — 5 -toothed or lobed, the sinuses expanding into 

 teeth or horns. Petals 4, or Avanting. Stamens as many, and 

 sometimes twice as many, as the lobes of the calyx. Style 

 mostly short. Stigma capitate. Capsule globose or ovate, 

 many-seeded. 



1. A. rainosior Linn.: stem erect, somewhat 4-sided; leaves Unear- 

 lanceolate, dilated at the base; flowers axillary, sessile; the lower ones 

 compactly whorled, the upper solitary ; petals 4, obovate-roundish ; sta- 

 mens 4. 



Salt meadows. N. J. to Car. W. to Ark. Aug., Sept. Q.—Stem \—8 

 inches high, sometimes much higher. Flowers purj)le, minute. There is stUl 

 some uncertainty in regard to this plant. Branched Ammannia. 



2. A. humilis Mich. : stem procumbent at the base, square, somewhat 

 branched ; leaves narrow-lanceolate, tapering at base into a short petiole ; 

 flowers sessile, solitary, axillary; petals 4, orbiculate ; stamens 4. A. ra- 

 viosior Walt. 



Damp grounds. Mass. N.Y. S.toGeor. Aug. (^.—Stemi — 8 inches high, 

 much more slender than in the former. Flowers small, blue. 



Dwarf Ammannia. 



2. LYTHRUM. Linn.—VxiTple Loosestrife. 



(From the Greek \vOpov, blood; in allusion to the color of the flower in some 

 species.) 



Calyx cylindric, striate, 8 — 12-toothed. Petals 4 — 6, inserted 

 into the calyx. Stamens as many or twice as many as the pe- 

 tals, sometimes fewer. Style filiform. Stigma capitate. Cap- 

 sule oblong, 2-celled, many-seeded. 



* Stamens mostly equal in numder with the petals. Flowers solitanj in 

 the axils of the leaves. 



1. L. hyssopifolia Linn. : leaves alternate or opposite, linear or oblong, 

 somewhat obtuse ; flowers subsessile, sliorter than the leaves ; bracts 

 minute or none ; petals and stamens 5 — 6. 



Low wet grounds. Mass. Conn. N. Y. July. (J).— Stem 12—18 inches 

 high ; the branches square, slightly margined. Leaves pale green, rather acute 

 at the base. Flowers small, pale purple. Hyssop-leaved Purple Loosestrife. 



