152 



POPULAR FLORA. 



34. CAROLINA-ALLSPICE FAMILY. Order CALYCANTHACE^. 



A small tamily of a few rather curious shrubs, with opposite leaves ; represented by the 



Carolina-Allspice. Qdycdntkus. 



Flowers somewhat on the plan of the rose, having a large 



number of simple pistils contained in a sort of closed calyx-cup, 



or hollow receptacle, and attached to its inner surface. But the 



outside is covered with sepals or calyx-lobes, which arc colored 



like the petals (brown-purple); these are many and narrow, in 



several rows. Stamens many, on the top of 



the cup; filaments hardly any; anthers long, 



tipped with a point. Ovaries making large 



akenes, enclosed in the large and dry hip. 



Seed-leaves of the embryo rolled up. Shrubs, 



with rather aromatic bark, &c., and opposite 



entire leaves, without any stipules. Flowers 



large, when bruised giving out a fragrance 



resembling that of strawberries. Wild in the 



Southern States, especially in and near the 



mountains; and also cultivated, especially the 



first species. 



852. Flowering branch of Carolina Allspice. 353 Half of 

 acalyx-cup of Ihe same, cut through lengthwise. (Compaie 

 it with a Rose, Fig. 360.) 364. A ripe fruit or hip, 



362 SSI 



1. Common C. Leaves oval or roundish, downy beneath. Commonly cult, in gardens. C.foridus. 



2. Smooth C. Leaves oblong, smooth, green both sides ; flowers smaller. C. kerigaius. 



3. Glaucous C. Leaves oblong- or lance-ovate, pointed, glaucous or whitened beneath. C. glaucus. 



35. LYTHRUM FAMILY. Order LYTHRACE^. 

 Herbs with entire and mostly opposite leaves, and no stipules ; the calyx tubular or cup- 

 shaped, bearing from 4 to 7 petals and 4 to 14 stamens on its throat, and enclosing the 

 many-seeded ovary and thin pod. Between the 4 to 7 teeth of the calyx are as many 

 additional projections or supernumerary teeth. Style one. 



Flowers regular, or nearly so. 



Calyx cylindrical, several-ribbed or angled: petals 4 to 7, rather unequal: stamens 



twice as many as the petals: pod 2-celled, (Lyihrhm) Lythrum.* 



Calyx short bell-shaped : petals 5: stamens 10 or 14, long and protruded: pod with 



3 to 5 cells: leaves often whorled, {Nescea) Nes^ea. 



Flowers with an irregular tubular calyx, spurred or projecting at the base on the upper 

 side. Very unequal petals, and 12 unequal stamens in two sets. Pod few-seeded, 

 bursting through one side of the calyx, ( Citphen) Cuphea. 



* Sometimes called Loosestrife ; but this name properly belongs to plants of another family. 



