156 LYTHRACE^:. [CLASS 



medium style, as in Fig. no; and No. 3, with medium 

 and long stamens, and short style. Mr. Darwin's expe- 

 riments indicate that it is of advantage to the plant to 



FIG. no. Vertical section of flower of Purple Loosestrife. 



have the stigma fertilized by pollen from stamens of 

 corresponding length, which necessarily involves the aid 

 of insects, as these are borne not only by a different 

 flower, but also upon a different plant. 



Henna, used by Egyptian ladies to dye their nails and 

 the palms of the hand a reddish-brown colour, is 

 obtained from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis. The 

 nails of mummies have been found stained in this way. 



25. Natural Order Cucurbitaceae. The Gourd 

 Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Tropical and warmer regions of both 

 the Old and New World. One British genus, species I. 



Type Common Bryony (Bryonia dioicd). 



A climbing perennial herb, with palmately-lobed leaves, 

 extra-axillary tendrils, and dioecious flowers. (The only 

 British spe:ies.) 



