1 78 droserAce^ 



surface of the leaf. It has been experimentally demonstrated that 

 the Sundews benefit by the animal food thus obtained. 



r. Drosera (Sundew). — Stipules membranous, adnate to the 

 petiole ',flotvers in i-sided sympodial cymes, curled up circinately 

 when in bud ; sepals, petals, and stamens 5 each ; styles 2—5, 

 deeply 2-fid ; capsule i-chambered, 2 — 5-valved. (Name from 

 the Greek drosera, dewy.) 



1. D. rotundifblia (Round-leaved Sundew). — An exceedingly 

 curious little bog plant, 2 — 6 in. high ; leaves all radical, petiolate, 

 spreading horizontally, round, with tentacles on the petiole, upper 

 surface, and margin ; flowers on a slender, wiry leafless scape, 

 small, white, cleistogene, or opening very rarely in sunny weather. 

 — Spongy bogs and heaths ; common. — Fl. July, August. 

 Perennial. 



2. D. dnglica (Great Sundew). — A larger, stouter species ; 

 leaves all radical, on very long stalks, which_ are destitute of 

 tentacles, erect or nearly so, obovate. — In similar situations to 

 the last, but much less frequent. — Fl. July, August, Perennial. 



3. D. lo7igifblia (Long-leaved Sundew). — Very similar to the 

 last, but smaller ; leaves spathulate, not more than 2 in. long ; 

 pedimcles curved at the base. — Occurring with D. rotundifblia, but 

 less frequent. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



OrDo XXX, Lythrarie^. — The Loosestrife Family 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with 4-angled branches ; simple, entire, 

 exstipulate, and generally opposite leaves, and usually polysymmetric 

 flowers ; sepals and petals 3 — 6 each ; stamens equalling the petals 

 in number, or 2 — 4 times as many ; carpels 2 — 6 ; fruit a many- 

 seeded capsule, covered by the calyx, but not united to it. — Most 

 members of the Order are tropical, and many of them possess 

 astringent properties which are utilised in dyeing. Lawsojiia 

 inermis is the Henna of Egypt, which has been used for ages by 

 the people of that country to stain their nails of an orange colour. 

 It is also used to dye Morocco leather a reddish-yellow. 



1. Peplis. — Calyx bell-shaped, with 12 divisions, alternately 

 smaller ; petals 6, minute, fugacious or absent ; stame7is 6 or 12; 

 style very short. 



2. Lythrum. — Calyx cylindric, with 12 divisions, alternately 

 smaller ; petals 6 ; stamens 6 or 12; style long. 



I. Peplis (Water Purslane). — Small, weak, annual herbs; 

 floivers minute, axillary ; calyx campanulate, 12-lobed, the alternate 

 lobes smaller ; petals, perigynous. fugacious or absent ; stamens 6 



