LIV. LTTHR.UlIE.i:. 115 



celled, with several ovules in each cell ; style single, filiform. 

 Capsules enclosed in the base of the persistent calyx -tube, or 

 girt with the calyx. Seeds without albumen. — Herbs or 

 shrubs, with simple, entire, exstipulate leaves. 



Herbaceous plants. 



Stamens 2. A minute, subsimple plant ; leaves subu- 

 late 1. SurFEENiA. 



Stamens 4 or more. 



Calyx bell-shaped. Capsules longer than the calyx 2. Ammannia. 

 Calyx tubular, cylindrical. Ovary 2-celled ... 3. Lytheum. 

 Calyx bell-shaped. Ovary 4-celled. Capsules hid- 

 den in the calyx-tube 4. Nes^a. 



Shrubs or trees. 



Stamens 5, opposite the petals, and inserted with 

 them ; leaves pellucid-dotted, aromatic ; flowers 

 small, panicled 5. Heteropyxis. 



Teibe 1. Lttheaeie^. (Gren. 1-4.) 



1. SUFFRENIA, Bollard. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 4-toothed, with 4 alternate, exterior, 

 very minute or obsolete alternating teeth, the inner teeth 

 ovate, acute, erect. Petals 4 (or 0?), very minute, fugacious. 

 Stamens 2, inserted within the calyx-tube, included ; filaments 

 short ; anthers subglobose. Ovary sessile, 2-celled ; ovules 

 numerous ; style filiform ; stigma capitate. Capsules oblong, 

 girt by the calyx, 2-valved. — Thes. Cap. t. 189. 



Small marsh plants. — ^S". Capensis, H., our only species, was found by 

 Mr. Cooper, on the Draakensberg, Orange Free State. Stems 1-2 inclies 

 high, tufted, subsimple. Leaves opposite, linear- subulate, 2-toothed. Flowers 

 axillary, ^ line long. Petals either or not seen by me. 



2. AMMANNIA, Linn. 



Calyx 2-bracteolate, bell-shaped, 4-14-nerved, with 4-7 

 erect, flat teeth, and frequently as many spreading minute or 

 obsolete alternating teeth. Petals 4-7. Stamens as many or 

 twice as many as the petals. Ovary 2-5-celled ; style simple, 

 persistent ; stigma capitate. Capsules girt by the calyx, 

 ovato-globose, delicately membranous, either splitting across 

 or opening by valves. — M. Cap. ii. p. 515. 



Small, much-branched herbs, growing in wet soil. Leaves opposite, 

 quite entire. Flowers small, axillary, sessile or pediceUed, usually pink or 

 red. — 2 South African species, both Eastern. 



3. LYTHRUM, Linn. 



Calyx bracteated, cylindrical, ribbed or striate, with 4-G 

 erect broad teeth, and as many spreading, smaller, alternating 

 teeth. Petals 4-6. Stamens inserted in the middle or at the 

 base of the calyx-tube, twice as many as the petals or rarely 



I 2 



