240 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



unequal, turned inwards in the bud. The anthers 

 are versatile, and often bent back. The disc is 

 annular, one-sided, or wanting. The pistil of two 

 carpels is syncarpous. The ovary is superior, two- to 

 six-celled, with a simple, straight, or wavy style, and a 

 pin-headed stigma. At the base it is two- to six- 

 locular. The ovules are numerous. The fruit is 

 usually dry and a capsule, enclosed in the calyx-tube, 

 two- to six-celled, or one-celled. 



The flowers are heterostylic in the Purple Loose- 

 strife {q. v.). 



The capsule opens by valves along the centre, and 

 the seeds are numerous, and float in water. 



The plants often possess astringent properties or 

 are acrid. The Pomegranate has an astringent bark. 

 Henna is derived from Lawsonia inermis, used by 

 women in Egypt to stain the nails an orange colour, 

 and for dyeing Morocco leather reddish-yellow. 



The group is related to the Willowherb group, 

 Myrtles, and to the Mare's Tail group, to Rosaceae 

 in the insertion of the stamens. 



Purple Loosestrife (Ly thrum Salicaria), 



One of our most beautiful wild flowers, the Purple 

 Loosestrife does not belong to the same group 

 (Primulaceae) as the Yellow Loosestrife, but is more 

 nearly related to the Willow-herbs, being placed in a 

 family by itself. 



Common throughout the British Isles, it is found 

 also in the Channel Islands. 



