OOSESTRIFE FAMILY. Lytbracese. 



LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. Lythracece. 



Herbs or shrubs in our range, with four-sided branches 

 and generally toothless, opposite leaves and perfect 

 flowers, though these are occasionally in two or even 

 three forms, i. e. , with long filaments (the stem part of 

 the stamen minus the anther) and a short style, or vice 

 versa. Petals 4-7. Stamens 4-14, sometimes the petals 

 are absent. Cross-fertilization effected in a number of 

 instances through the agency of bees and butterflies. 

 Hyssop A sm th branching annual, with pale 



Loosestrife green stem and leaves, the latter alternate 

 Lythrum and lance-shaped, with stemless base, at 



Hyssopifolia w hi c h there are frequently little narrow 



Pale purple . _ , 



magenta leaflets, growing upon a separate stem of 



July- their own, which, lengthening, forms late- 



September ral, leafy branches above. The pale pur- 

 plish magenta flowers usually have six petals and the 

 same number of stamens, or less ; they grow singly in the 

 angles of the leaves. 6-15 inches high. In salt marshes 

 from Me. to N. J., also (according to Britton and Brown) 

 in Cal., and along the coast of South America. 



A similar, paler flowered species with 

 Lythrum 

 lineare linear leaves growing oppositely; the 



tiny flowers grow in two forms, explained 

 under the family description above. A perennial 2-3 

 feet high. Salt marshes from N. J., south along the 

 coast to Fla. and Tex. 



A tall slim species with much darker 

 alatum" leafage and a smooth, much-branched, and 



angled stem. The leaves alternate (the 

 lowest opposite), lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, and 

 broader at the base. The flowers deep purple-magenta, 

 J inch or more broad, and dimorphous, that is, in two 

 forms, as explained above ; the stamens very long in 

 some blossoms. 1-3 feet high. In low moist ground, 

 from Mass. (East Lexington, and Boston), Vt. (Char- 

 lotte), south to Ky., and west to Minn., S. Dak., Col., 

 and Ark. 



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