330 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



four-lobed. Petals four, obovate, wrinkled, inserted 

 near the top of the calyx-tube. Stamens eight, in 

 pairs between the petals and opposite to the sepals. 

 Ovary free or four-celled with a single style and 

 capitate stigma. Placentation axile. Fruit a globular 

 capsule, with membraneous partitions. Seeds angular, 

 sharp pointed, and tightly packed in the capsule. 



CHARACTERS OF THE LYTHRACE^E 



These two genera are good examples of the family 

 LYTHRACE.E. 



It consists of trees, shrubs and herbs, with opposite 

 leaves, small stipules and generally cymose panicles of 

 flowers. The calyx-tube is more or less deeply hol- 

 lowed, the petals generally four or six inserted near 

 the top of it, clawed, and crumpled or wrinkled when 

 in bud. Stamens as many or twice as many, or very 

 numerous, filaments long, inserted near the base of 

 the calyx-tube. Ovary free, at the bottom of the calyx- 

 tube, with two or more cells. Seeds many. 



Other plants belonging to this family are 



WOODFORDIA FLORIBUNDA, Salisb., a shrub with 

 long spreading branches covered in the hot weather 

 with red flowers (the calyx is bright, the petals not 

 very conspicuous). 



PEMPHIS ACIDULA, Forst, which grows on the sea 

 coasts all over the tropics of the East. 



SONNERATIA ACIDA, Linn, f., another tree of much 

 the same habit, forming part of the * mangrove vege- 

 tation ' of flat muddy seashores. 



Various species of AMMANIA, e.g. A. PEPLOIDES, 

 Spreng., A. ROTUNDIFOLIA, Ham., A. PENTANDRA, 



