158 LYTHRACE.E. (LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY.) 



* Capsule bursting irregularly: flowers mostly clustered. 



1. A. COCCinGa, Uoettb. Stem mostly branching, 2 high; leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, dilated and auriculate at the basu ; flowers nearly sessile ; style 

 and stamens exserted ; petals round-obovate, purj)le. Wet banks, South 

 Carolina, and westward. July - Sept. 



2. A. latifolia, L. Stem simple, 1- 1 higli ; lower leaves oblong, short- 

 petioled, the upper auriculate-clasping, or sessile; flowers sessile; petals 

 none; stamens and short style included. Ditches and wet banks in the 

 lower districts. July - Sept. 



* * Capsule valvate : flowers solitary, HOTALA. 



3. A. humilis, Michx. Stem simple, or branching from the base, 6'- 12' 

 high ; leaves lanceolate, or the upper liuear, obtuse, tapering into a short 

 petiole ; flowers nearly sessile ; style short ; petals 4, white. Ditches and 

 muddy banks. July - Sept. 



3. LYTHRUM, L. LOOSESTRIFE. 



Calyx cylindrical, striate, 4 - 7-toothed, usually with minute appendages in 

 tlie sinuses. Petals 4-7. Stamens as many as the petals, or twice as many, 

 inserted on the lower part of the calyx, nearly equal. Capsule oblong, 2- 

 celled, many-seeded Herbs, with opposite or alternate leaves, and axillary 

 purple or whitish flowers. 



1. L. alatum, Pursh. Smooth; stem and virgate branches 4-angled ; 

 leaves lanceolate, acute at both ends, opposite, the uppermost alternate, and 

 shorter than the flowers ; petals and stamens 6. Varies with brandies 

 shorter, leaves larger (!' long), broadly lanceolate, sometimes whorled, the 

 uppermost twice as long as the calyx. (L. lanceolatnm, Ell.) Swamps 

 and river banks. July- Sept. Stem 2 -4 high. Flowers violet-purple. 



2. L. flagellare, Slmttlw. Perennial, creeping, smooth ; the branches 

 erect, terete ; leaves opposite, nearly sessile, rigid, oblong ; flowers single, 

 shorter than the leaves, the short pedicel bibracteolate ; calyx club-shaped, fi- 

 toothed, the teeth broad and shorter than the subulate appendages; petals fi, 

 spatnlate, bright purple ; stamens and style exserted. Margins of ponds, 

 Sarasota, South Florida (Garber). Branches 6' -12' high. Leaves 4" -6" 

 long. 



3. L. lineare, L. Smooth; stem 4-angled, much branched; leave* nil 

 opposite, linear; flowers small, whitish; petals and stamens 6. Brackish 

 marshes along the coast. August. Stem 2 -4 high. Calyx teeth short. 



4. NES2EA, Commerson. 



Calyx hemispherical or campanulate, with 4-7 erect teeth, and as many 

 longer and spreading horn-like appendages in the sinuses. Petals 4-7. Sta- 

 mens twice as many as the petals. Capsule globose, .3 - 4-celled. Perennial 

 herbs or shrubby plants, with opposite or whorled leaves, and clustered pedi- 

 <:elled flowers in their axils. 



