LYTHKACEAE. 1 01 



Ovary 1-celIed : ovules 2-5. pendulous. Fam. 4. Terminaliaceab. 



Cotyledons not spirally convolute. 



Sepals imbi'icated or united and the calyx fall- 

 ing away as a cap. Fam. 5. Mtktaceae. 

 Sepals valvate. 



Leaves stipulate : sepals leathery. Fam. 6. Rhizophohaceab. 



Leaves not stipulate : sepals membranous 



or herbaceous. Fam. 7. Epilobiaceae. 



Family 1. MELASTOMACEAE. Meadow-beauty Family. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves opposite : blades with 3-several ribs. 

 Flowers perfect. Calyx of 3-6 sepals, surmounting the hypanthium. 

 Corolla of 3-6 oblique petals. Androeeium of 6-12 stamens, those oppo- 

 site the petals sometimes abortive. Gynoecium of 3-5 united carpels. 

 Ovary enclosed in or adnate to the hypanthium. Fruit baccate or capsular. 



1. EHEXIA L. Perennial herbs witli rootstocks. Leaf-blades usually 

 3-5-ribbed. Hypanthium urceolate, prolonged beyond the ovary. Sepals 4. 

 Petals 4, deciduous. Ovary 4-celled, free. Capsule included, 4-valved. — 

 Meadow-beauty. 



1. R. serrulata Nutt. Stems 5-30 cm. tall: leaf -blades ovate, oval, or sub- 

 orbicular, 0.5-1 cm. long: petals purple, about 10 mm. long: capsules about 4 

 mm. long, spheroidal. — Low pinelands and open hammocks, L. keys. — [E. K.] 



Family 2. LYTHRACEAE. Loosestrife Family. 



Herbs, shmbs, or tropical trees. Leaves mostly opposite : blades 

 usually entire. Flowers perfect. Calyx of 4 or 5 sepals, commonly ac- 

 companied by accessory teeth. Corolla of 4 or 5 petals, or wanting. 

 Androeeium of few or many stamens : anthers versatile. Gynoecium of 

 mostly 2-6 united carpels. Ovaiy 2-6-eelled, or rarely 1-eelled, free from 

 the hypanthium. Fruit a capsule, included. 



Hypanthium short, becoming hemispheric or globose. 



Capsule bursting irregularly. 1. Ammaxxia. 



Capsule septicidal. 2. Rotala. 



Hypanthium elongate, becoming tubular. 3. Lytheum. 



1. AMMANNIA L. Leathery-succulent herbs. Leaf -blades narrow, often 

 aurieled at the base. Flowers in axillary, sometimes 1-flowered, cymes. Sepals 

 4, involute, often accompanied by small teeth. Petals 4, early deciduous, or 

 wanting. 



1. A. latifolia L. Plants 2-11 dm. tall: leaf -blades linear-oblong to linear- 

 lanceolate, mostly 3-7 em. long, slightly aurieled and clasping at the base: 

 corolla wanting : capsules 4-5 mm. in diameter. — Low hammocks and lime-sinks, 

 U. S. keys, U. keys, L. keys. — [E. K.] — (Bah., Cuba, Ant.) 



2. ROTALA L. Herbs resembling Ammannia. Leaf-blades narrow, 

 entire. Flowers usually solitary in the axils. Sepals 4, accompanied by ap- 

 pendages in the sinuses. Petals usually 4. Stamens 4. Style very short. 



1. R. ramosior (L.) Koehn. Stems 0.5-4 dm. long: leaf-blades oblong to 

 linear or sj^atulate, 1-3 cm. long: sei^als acute: petals obovate or euneate, as 

 long as the sepals or longer : capsules 2.5-3.5 mm. in diameter. — Hammocks and 

 sandy places, Key West. — {Ant.) 



