83 LYTHRACEAE. 



Anthers opening by pores. Fam. 1. MELASTOMACEAE. 



Anthers opening by longitudinal valves. 



Hypanthium merely enclosing the ovary. Fam. 2. LYTHRACEAE. 



Hypanthium adnate to the ovary or mainly so. 

 Cotyledons spirally convolute in the embryo. 

 Ovary several-celled : ovules numerous, not 



pendulous. Fam. 3. PUNICACEAE. 



Ovary 1-celled : ovules 2-5, pendulous. Fam. 4. TERMINALIACEAE. 



Cotyledons not spirally convolute. 



Sepals imbricated or united and the calyx fall- 

 ing away as a cap : leaves without stipules. Fam. 5. MTRTACEAE. 

 Sepals valvate : leaves with stipules. Fam. 6. RHIZOPHORACEAE. 



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. Androecium of 6-12 stamens, those opposite 

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

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



1. TETRAZYGIA L. C. Eich. Shrubs or trees. Leaf-blades 3-5-ribbed, 

 mostly scurfy or tomentose beneath. Sepals, and petals, 4 or 5. Ovary 4- or 

 5-celled. Berry included, the hypanthium-neck short. 



1. T. bicolor (Mill.) Cogn. Shrub or small tree with scaly bark: leaf -blades 

 lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 8-20 cm. long, silvery beneath, stout-petioled : 

 panicle 1-2 dm. long: calyx about 1 mm. long: petals white, 7-8 mm. long, 

 cuneate: anthers lanceolate, 5-6 mm. long: berries purple or black, the body 

 8-10 mm. long. TETRAZYGIA. 



Hammocks and pinelands, E. Keys. (W. I.) Winter-spr. 

 I 



FAMILY 2. LYTHRACEAE. LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves mostly opposite: blades usually 

 entire. Flowers perfect. Calyx of 4 or 5 sepals, commonly accompanied 

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

 few or many stamens : anthers versatile. Gynoecium of mostly 2-6 united 

 carpels. Ovary 2-6-celled, or rarely 1-celled, free from the hypanthium. 

 Fruit a capsule, included in the hypanthium. 



Flowers in terminal panicles : stamens numerous. 1. LAGERSTROEMIA. 



Flowers in axillary cymes : stamens 8 or 10. 2. DECODON. 



1. LAGERSTROEMIA L. Shrubs or trees. Leaves persistent: blades 

 short. Flowers in terminal panicles. Sepals 6. Petals 6, the blades crisped. 

 Stamens numerous. Capsule loculieidally 3-6-valved. 



1. L. indica L. Small tree or shrub: leaf -blades obovate or oval, 1-2.5 cm. 

 long, entire: sepals shorter than the hypanthium: petals purple, pink, or 

 nearly white, the blades crisped: capsules oval-globose, 8-9 mm. long. CRAPE- 

 MYRTLE. 



Fields and roadsides, throughout Fla., except the s. part. Nat. of the E. Indies. 

 (Cont., W. I.) Spr.-sum. 



2. DECODON J. F. Gmel. Aquatic shrubs. Leaves deciduous: blades 

 entire, somewhat elongate. Flowers in axillary peduncled cymes. Sepals 5-7, 

 alternating and small teeth. Petals 5-7. Stamens 10 or rarely 8, alternating 

 short and long, the longer exserted. Capsule loculieidally 3-6-valved. 



1. D, verticillatus (L.) Ell. Stems arching, mostly 4-16 dm. long: leaf -blades 

 lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 3-20 cm. long: sepals acuminate: petals purple, 



