CALYCIFLOR.I;. 066 



The bark of Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice, is some- 

 times used in the United States as a substitute for Cinnamon 

 bark. 



Natural Order 84. Ltthracr-i:. — The Loosestrife Order {figs. 

 927 and 928). — Character. — Herbs or rarely shrubs, frequently 

 4-sided. Leaves opposite, or rarely alternate, entire and exstipu- 

 late. Flou'ers regular or irregular. Calyx {fig. 928) per- 

 sistent, ribbed, tubular below, the lobes with a valvate {esti- 

 vation, sometimes with intermediate teeth {fig. 928). Petah 

 inserted between the lobes of the calyx and alternate with them 

 (fig. 927), sometimes wanting, xevj deciduous. Stamens perigy- 

 nous, inserted below the petals {fig. 927), to which they are equal 

 in number, or twice as many, or even more numerous ; anthers 

 adnate, 2-celled {fig. 927), opening longitudinally. Ovary 

 superior {fig. 927), 1, 2, or 6-celled ; ovules numerous, or rarely 

 few; style 1, filiform {fig. 927); stigma capitate, or rarely 2- 

 lobed. Emit capsular, membranous, dehiscent, surrounded by 

 the non-adherent calyx. Seeds numerous, with or without 

 wings, exalbuminous ; placentation axile {fig. 927) ; embryo 

 straight, with flat leafy cotyledons, and the radicle towards the 

 hilum. 



Fi^. 92/ 



Fla. 92 



Vf/. 927. Vertical section of tlie flower of the Purple Loosestrife {Lythrum 

 Salicaria). Fig. 928. Calyx of the same. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs, with entire exstipiilate and 

 usually opposite leaves. Calyx tubular, ribbed, persistent, bear- 

 ing the deciduous petals and stamens; the latter being inserted 

 below the petals. Anthers 2-celled, adnate, bursting longitu- 

 dinally. Ovary superior, with axile placentation ; style 1. Fruit 

 membranous, dehiscent, surrounded by the non-adherent calyx. 

 Seeds numerous, exalbuminous. 



Distribution, cfr. — The greater number are tropical plants, but 



