LOOSESTKiFE FAMILY. 177 



XLVI. LYTHRACE^J, LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. 



Trees or herbs with the 1-4-celled, many-seeded ovary and 

 pod usually free from, but mostly inclosed in, the tube of the 

 calyx, the leaves not punctate, mostly opposite and entire, the 

 stamens on the throat of the calyx, with anthers opening 

 lengthwise. Flowers perfect, often dimorphous or trimor- 

 phous. To this family is now appended the Pomegranate, 

 which, although peculiar, is nearer to this than to the Myrtle 

 Family, to which it is often referred. 



1. Ovary coherent with the calyx tube, becoming a fleshy fruit. Small tree. 



1. PUNICA. Calyx tube colored (scarlet), thick and coriaceous, its top-shaped base cohe- 



rent with the ovary, above enlarged and 5-7-lobed ; its throat bearing the 5-7 petals 

 and very many incurved stamens. Style slender. Ovary with many cells in two 

 sets, one above the other, and very many ovules in each. Fruit large, globular, 

 crowned with the calyx lobes, berry -like, but with a hard rind ; the numerous seeds 

 coated with a juicy edible pulp; 



2. Ovary free from the calyx tube, becoming a l-6-celled pod. 

 * Stamens indefinitely numerous. Small tree. 



2. LAGERSTR(EMIA. Calyx 6-lobed. Petals 6, very wavy-crisped, raised on slender 



claws, borne on the throat of the calyx. Stamens borne in the bottom of the calyx, 

 very long and slender, 6 outermost larger than the rest. Style very slender. Pod 

 oblong, thick, many-seeded, 3-6-celled, only the base covered by the persistent calyx. 

 * * Stamens 4-1 6, only as many or twice as many as the lobes of the calyx, inserted 

 lower down than the petals. Herbs or nearly so ; calyx mostly with projecting 

 folds, or accessory teeth between the proper teeth or lobes. 

 +- Flowers regular or nearly so ; pod many-seeded, included in the calyx. .-.,., 

 H- Stamens 4. 



3. ROT ALA. Calyx short, bell-shaped, or nearly globose, with tooth-like appendages at 



the sinuses. Stamens short. Petals 4. Capsule globular and 4-celled, septicidal. 

 Leaves (in ours) opposite. 



4. AMMANNIA. Calyx short, 4-angled, generally with a horn-like appendage at each 



sinus. Petals 4 and small, or none. Pod globular, 2-4-celled, opening irregularly. 

 Leaves opposite, narrow. 



H- 4+ Stamens more than 4. 



5. LYTHRUM. Calyx cylindrical, 8-12-ribbed or striate, with a minute appendage in each 



sinus. Petals 5-T, mostly 6. Stamens 5-14. Style slender. Pod oblong, 2-celled. 

 Leaves sessile. 



6. DECODON. Calyx short, bell-shaped, or hemispherical, with prominent projections 



between the teeth. Stamens 8 or 10 (rarely more), twice as many as the petals, in 2 

 sets, with long projecting filaments. Style slender. Pod globular, 3-5-celled. Leaves 

 mostly whorled in threes, or opposite. Flowers trimorphous. 



-- -t- Flowers irregular ; pod mostly few-seeded. 



T. CUPHEA. Calyx elongated, mostly many-ribbed, gibbous, spurred, or with a sac-like 

 projection at base on the upper side, oblique at the mouth, which has 6 proper 

 teeth, and usually as many intermediate accessory ones or processes. Petals mostly 

 6, with claws, and very unequal, the two upper ones larger ; sometimes all or part 

 wanting. Stamens 11 or 12, unequal. Ovary flat, 2-celled, but one cell smaller and 

 sterile or empty. Pod inclosed in the calyx, and bursting through it on the lower side. 

 GRAY'S F. F. & G. EOT. 12 



