474 MELASTOMACEAE, (Vou. Il. 
sometimes shorter; anthers opening by a pore in our species. Ovary 2-several- 
celled (often 4-celled); style terminal, simple; stigma simple or lobed; ovules «, 
anatropous. Capsule included in the calyx-tube, irregularly or loculicidally de- 
hiscent. Seeds mainly small, with no endosperm. 
About 150 genera and 2500 species, widely distributed in tropical regions, most abundant in 
South America; represented in North America, only by the following genus. 
1. RHEXIA L, Sp. Pl. 346. 1753. 
Perennial herbs, often somewhat woody at the base, sometimes tuber-bearing, with 
mostly sessile opposite 3-5-nerved leaves, and terminal showy cymose or rarely solitary 
flowers. Calyx-tube urn-shaped or campanulate, constricted at the neck, its limb 4-lobed, 
the lobes triangular or subulate, shorter than the tube. Petals 4, obovate, oblique, rounded 
retuse, or aristate at the apex. Stamens 8, equal; anthers linear or oblong, incurved or in- 
verted in the bud. Ovary free from the calyx, glabrous, 4-celled; style slender; stigma 
truncate. Capsule 4-celled, 4-valved. Placentae 4, central. Seeds numerous, coiled or 
bent, rough. [Greek, breaking, applied originally to a different plant. ] 
‘Ten known species, natives of eastern North America. 
Stem cylindric, very pubescent. 1. R. Mariana. 
Stem square or angled, pubescent or glabrous. 
Stem more or less pubescent; leaves ovate. 2. R. Virginica. 
Stem glabrous. 
Leaves oblong or lance-oblong; calyx With a few hairs above. 3. R. aristosa. 
Leaves ovate, bristly-ciliate; calyx glabrous. 4. R. ciltosa. 
Qw Cpe 1. Rhexia Mariana L. Maryland Mea- 
WZ dow-Beauty. (Fig. 2551.) 
wy CRYO Rhexia Mariana I,. Sp. Pl. 346. 1753- 
Stem rather slender, cylindric, simple,or branched 
aN MF) — above, very hirsute-pubescent, 1°-2° high. Leaves 
ee. = ye" Wes spreading, short-petioled, oblong, or linear-oblong, 
By 2 : . Ke SUF mostly acute at the apex, narrowed at the base, 
1/-114/ long, 2/’-5’’ wide, pubescent with scattered 
bristly hairs on both surfaces, 3-nerved, the margins 
ciliate-serrulate; flowers loosely cymose, pedicelled, 
pale purple, about 1’ broad; pedicels and calyx- 
tube glandular-pubescent; petals rounded; anthers 
linear, curved, minutely spurred on the back. 
In swamps, pine-barrens of New Jersey to Florida, 
west to Kentucky, Missouri and Texas. June-Sept. 
2. Rhexia Virginica L. Meadow-Beauty. 
Deer-Grass. (Fig. 2552.) 
Rhexia Virginica l,. Sp. Pl. 346. 1753. 
Stem rather stout, simple or branched above, 
\ square, the angles often slightly winged, more or 
less pubescent, 1°-1%4° high. Leaves ascending, 
sessile, ovate or ovate-oval, acute or acutish at the 
apex, rounded or rarely narrowed at the base, 1/-2’ 
long, 6’’-12’’ wide, usually with a few scattered 
hairs on both surfaces, mostly 5-nerved, the mar- 
gins ciliate-serrulate; flowers bright purple, cymose, 
short-pedicelled, 1/-114’ broad; calyx-tube and 
pedicels glandular-pubescent; petals rounded or 
slightly retuse; anthers linear, curved, minutely 
spurred on the back. 
In sandy swamps, Maine to Florida, west to northern 
New York, Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana. Ascends 
to 2000 ft. in Pennsylvania. July-Sept. 
