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XXVIII. LYTHRARIEJE. 155 



XXVIII. LYTHRARlis^ffi. THE LYTHRUM FAMILY. 

 Herbs, or, in some exotic genera, shrubs or trees, with leaves 

 mostly (at least the lower ones) opposite, entire, and without 

 stipules; the flowers either axillary or forming terminal 

 racemes or spikes, more or less leafy at the base. Calyx free, 

 tubular or campanulate, with as many, or twice as many, teeth 

 as tlfere are petals. Petals 4, 5, or sometimes more, rarely 

 deficient, inserted at the top of the tube of the calyx, crumpled 

 in the bud. Stamens equal to or double the number of the 

 petals (or, in some exotic genera, indefinite), inserted in the 

 tube of the calyx, often lower down than the petals. Style 

 single. Ovary free from the calyx, but generally enclosed 

 within its tube, divided into 2 or more cells, each with several 

 ovules. Capsule of a thin texture, sometimes becoming 1 -celled 

 by the drying up of the partition, containing several small seeds 

 without albumen. 



A considerable family, some of the herbaceous semi-aquatic species 

 dispersed over almost every part of the globe, whilst the larger shrubby 

 or arborescent ones spread over the tropics both in the New and the 

 Old World. They come near to some llosacece in the insertion of the 

 stamens, the position of the ovary, the structure of the seeds, &c., but, 

 independently of the structure of the ovary, they are readily known by 

 their entire leaves, the .lower ones at least always opposite. They are 

 much more allied to the splendid and extensive tropical Order of 

 Melastomacece, which, however, has no representative in Europe, and is 

 even but little known in our stoves. 



Calyx tubular. Petals longer than its teeth 1. LYTHRUM. 



Calyx shortly campanulate. Petals minute or none . . .2. PEPLIS. 



Several species of Cuphea, an American genus of this family, are now 

 generally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



I. LYTHRUM. LYTHRUM. 



Herbs, with sessile, axillary flowers, the upper ones forming long 

 leafy spikes. Calyx tubular, with 8, 10, or 12 teeth, 4, 5, or 6 of them 

 being external, and much narrower than the alternate inner ones. 

 Petals 4, 5, or 6, longer than the calycine teeth. Stamens as many, or 

 nearly twice as many, inserted below the petals on the tube of the 

 calyx. Ovary and capsule 2-celled. Stigma borne on a distinct style. 



The genus consists of very few species, spread over the northern 

 hemisphere of the New as well as the Old World. 



Stems 2 feet or more. Leaves all opposite or whorled. Flowers 



large, in a showy, terminal raceme L L. Salicaria. 



Stems 6 or 8 inches or less. Upper leaves alternate, narrow. 



Flowers small, with minute petals . . 2. L. hyssopifolium. 



1. li. Salicaria, Linn. (fig. 355). Purple Loosestrife. Rootstock 

 perennial, with stout, annual, erect stems, 2 or 3 feet high, slightly 

 branched, glabrous or softly downy. Leaves opposite cr sometimes 

 lp threes, sessile, and clasping the stem t the base, lanceolate and 



