84 COMMON CANADIAN WILD PLANTS. 



2. L. alternifo'lia, L. (SEED-BOX.) Stem branching, 

 about 3 feet high, nearly smooth. Flowers yellow, conspicu- 

 ous, peduncled in the upper axils. Leaves alternate, pointed 

 at both ends. Capsules wing-angled. S. W. Ontario. 



3. L. polyearp'a, Short and Peter. Stem 1-3 feet high, 

 erect and branching, but producing runners at the base. 

 Flowers small, sessile in the axils, with greenish petals or 

 none. Leaves acute at both ends, those of the runners 

 oblong-spathulate. Bractlets at the base of the capsules 

 linear-awl-shaped. S. W. Ontario, not common. 



ORDER XXXVIII. MELASTOMA'CE^l. (MELASTOMA F.) 



Low herbs with opposite 3-5-ribbed leaves. Calyx-tube 

 adherent to the ovary, the limb 4- cleft. Petals 4, showy, 

 convolute in the bud. Stamens 8, with 1-celled anthers 

 opening by a pore at the apex ; these and the petals inserted 

 on the calyx. Style and stigma 1. Pod 4-celled, many- 

 seeded ; seeds coiled. The only representative with us is 



KIIEXIA, L. DEER-GRASS. MEADOW-BEAUTY. 

 . R. Virgin'iea, L. Stem square, wing-angled. Leaves 

 oval-lanceolate. Petals purple. Shores of the Muskoka 

 Lakes. 



ORDER XXXIX. LYTHRA'CE^E. (LOOSESTRIFE F.) 

 Herbs, or slightly woody plants, with opposite or whorled 

 entire leaves, without stipules. Calyx enclosing, but free 

 from, the ovary. Petals and stamens inserted on the calyx, 

 Flowers axillary or whorled. Style 1. Stigma capitate. 



Synopsis of tlic Genera. 



1. L.vtli ruin. Petals mostly 6. Stamens mostly 6 or 12. Flowers 



purple, solitary in the axils, or forming an interrupted spike. 

 Calyx-teeth with projections in the sinuses. Pod oblong-, 2-celled. 



2. Nesse'a. Petals 5 (rarely 4). Stamens twice as many, in two sets. 



Pod 3-5-celled. 



1. LYTH'RUIW, L. LOOSESTRIFE. 



1. L. ala'tum, Pursh. Tall and wand-like. Flowers 

 solitary in the upper axils. Calyx- teeth often shorter than 



