LYTHRACEAi. 



[chap. 



A floating or creeping annual herb, with alternate, entire, 

 obovate leaves, and axillary, solitary, pedunculate, reddish 

 or yellow-white, regular flowers. 



This common water-plant is exceptional in having its 

 parts usually in lives ; the flowers of the Family are almost 

 invariably fetrajnerous, i.e. with the parts in fours. 



Observe the floats of cellular tissue attached to the sub- 

 merged nodes of the Jussieiia: the valvate aestivation of 

 the calyx-lobes and twisted aestivation of the petals. 



In the garden species of the ornamental South American 

 genus Fuchsia the calyx is beautifully coloured, as well as 

 the corolla. In some species of Fuchsia the corolla is very 

 small, or wholly absent. 



Onagraceae are chiefly plants of temperate regions, and 

 they are not a conspicuous feature in India. 



Nearly allied to this Family is the small aquatic Order 

 Halorageae. It includes the Water Chestnuts {Trapa bi- 

 spinosa and T. biconiis), important food-plants in Thibet, 

 N.W. India, and China. The fruit of T. biconiis resembles 

 the head of an ox in miniature. 



43. Natural Order, Lythracece. — The Loosestrife Family. 

 Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with opposite (or alternate) simple 

 leaves. Ovary free. 



