VOL. II.] 



LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. 



47i 



the calyx-tube, the longer exserted. Style filiform; stigma small. Capsule globose, 3-5- 

 celled, included in the calyx, loculicidally dehiscent. [Greek, ten-toothed, referring to the 

 calyx.] 



A monotypic genus of eastern North America. 



i. Decodon verticillatus (L. ) Ell. Swamp 

 Loosestrife or Willow-herb. (Fig. 2544.) 



Lvthrutn verticillatum L. Sp. PI. 446. 1753. 

 Decodon aquaticus]. F. Gmel. Syst. 2: 677. 1791. 

 Decodon verticillatus EH. Bot. S. C. & Ga. i : 544. 1821 . 

 Nesaea verticillata H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 6: 191. 1823. 



Aquatic, perennial, somewhat woody, with an- 

 gular recurved glabrous or slightly pubescent 

 stems 3-io long, which root from the tip when 

 they reach the water or mud. Leaves lanceolate, 

 2 / -5 / long, 4"-i2" wide, glabrous above, somewhat 

 pubescent beneath, acute at both ends; petioles 

 2 // ~4 // long; cymes several-flowered; flowers nearly 

 i / broad; petals cuneate at the base, pink-purple; 

 filaments of the longer stamens very slender; 

 capsule about 2%" in diameter. 



In swamps, Rhode Island and Massachusetts to Flor- 

 ida, west to southern Ontario, Minnesota, Kentucky 

 and Louisiana. Stems clothed with aerenchyma at the 

 base. Flowers rarely double. Ascends to 2000 ft. in 

 Pennsylvania. July-Sept. 



5. LYTHRUM L. Sp. PI. 446. 1753. 



Herbs or shrubs, with 4-angled stems, opposite alternate or rarely verticillate entire 

 leaves, and solitary cyniose-paniculate or spicate and terminal often dimorphous or trimor- 

 phous flowers. Calyx-tube cylindric, 8-i2-ribbed, straight, not gibbous at the base, with 

 4-6 primary teeth and an equal number of accessory ones in the sinuses. Petals 4-6, usually 

 obovate, rarely wanting. Stamens 8-12, inserted on the calyx-tube, included or exserted. 

 Ovary oblong, sessile, 2-celled; style filiform; stigma mostly capitate; ovules numerous. 

 Capsules enclosed by the calyx, membranous, 2-celled, 2-valved, or bursting irregularly. 

 Seeds flat or angular. [Greek, gore, from the purple color of the flowers.] 



About 23 species, of wide geographic distribution. Besides the following, about 4 others occur 

 in the southern and western United States. 



Flowers axillary, solitary; stamens not more numerous than petals. 

 Leaves mostly alternate. 



Leaves obtuse; stamens all included; annual. 



Leaves acute; stamens of short-styled flowers exserted; perennial. 

 Leaves mostly opposite. 



Leaves narrowly linear, narrowed at the base. 

 Leaves ovate or oval, rounded or cordate at the base. 

 Flowers in spicate panicles, terminal; stamens twice as many as petals. 



1. L. Hyssopifolia, 



2. L. alatum. 



3. L, lineare. 



4. L. Vulneraria. 



5. L. Salicaria. 



i. Lythrum Hyssopifolia L. Hyssop 

 Loosestrife. Grass Poly. (Fig. 2545.) 



Lythrum Hyssopifolia L. Sp. PI. 447. 1753. 



Annual, glabrous, pale green, erect or assurgent, at 

 length widely branched, 6 / -24 / high. Leaves sessile, 

 mainly alternate, the lowest sometimes opposite, ob- 

 long or linear-oblong, obtuse at the apex, rounded at 

 the base, 4 // -io // long, i // -4 // wide, those of the main 

 stem larger than those of the branches; flowers solitary 

 and sessile in the axils, not dimorphous, pink-purple, 

 about Y-L" broad; petals nearly erect; stamens all in- 

 cluded; calyx 2^ // -3 // long in fruit. 



Borders of salt marshes, Maine to New Jersey. Also in 

 California and along the coast of South America. Natu- 

 ralized from Europe. Widely distributed in the Old 

 World. June-Sept. 



