88 FLOWERS ()!• I.AKl-.S, RUERS, ETC. 



The capsule, which is egg-shaped and 1-2-celled, is divided by 

 septa and opens along the centre of each valve irregularly, allowing 

 the numerous small yellow seeds to be thrown out to some distance. 

 When blown or cast up on the water they are able to float. 



Purple Loosestrife is a peat- or luinius-loving plant, growing in 

 wet peaty grountl close to water, and is often submerged. 



The beetles, Galcnica ca/iiianciisis, 1 laltica /yf/ii-i, Aplithona liitc- 

 sm/s, Ochrosis salicaricc, and Psy/liodcs pic'nta, Apion vcnialc, feed on 

 it, and the Lepidoptera, Small Elephant Hawk Moth (Choci'ocaiupa 

 elpcuoy\ and iIk- \' Pug [luipif/uria coroi/a/a). 



Lythrnni, Linna:;us, is from the Greek lythron, gore, from the 

 purple colour of the flowers, and Salicaria, Tournefort, is from salix, 

 willow, from the shape of the leaves. 



Purple Loosestrife is called Purjile Grass, Herb Willow, Long 

 Purples, Purple Loo.se-strife, Red .Sally, .Soldiers, Spiked Willow Herb. 

 This plant is called Red .Sally in Lancashire, where it is much gathered 

 for medicinal use. In Clare's " \'illage Minstrel " it is called Long 



Purples : 



" Gay long-purples with its tuft}' spike 

 She'd wade o'er shoes to reach it in the dyke". 



The plant is astringent and tonic, and is much used in Ireland on 

 account of those properties. It has also been usetl in tanning. 



Essential Stecific Char.a.cters: — 



117. Lythriuii Salicaria, L. — Stem tall, erect, leaves lanceolate, 

 cordate below, opposite, flowers purple, in whorls in spikes, stamens 12, 

 long and short, calyx teeth alternately long ami spreading. 



Great Hairy Willow Herb (Epilobium hirsuium, L.) 



The present clistriljution of this [)lant, which is the limit of our 

 knowledge so far as to its antiquity ami range, is the North Temperate 

 Zone, where it is fuind in b'urope, .\. Africa, .Siberia, W. Asia, and 

 it has been introduced into N. America. In Great Britain it is 

 abundant in all the counties except Cardigan, Carnarvon, Stirling, 

 Mid Perth, S. .\berdeen, Banft", Elgin, Easterness, W. and X. High- 

 lands, West .SutherhuKi, and the Xorihern Isles. 



The Great Hairy Willow Herb grows wherever there is a moist 

 ditch, or by pond-sides, along the margins of lakes and rivers, and in 

 mar-shes and pools. It is a gregarious plant, needing constant moisture 

 at the roots, but may rarely be found on dr\- land. W iih it grow 



