27. LYTHRACE^E. 28. TAMARISCACE^E. 115 



Order XXVII. LYTHRACE^E. 



Cal. tubular, lobed, lobes valvate or distant in aestivation, 

 sometimes with intermediate teeth. Pet. between the lobes of 

 the calyx, very deciduous. Stam. inserted in the tube of the cal. 

 below the pet. and equalling them or 2, 3 or 4 times as many. 

 Ovary free, 2 4celled. Caps, membranaceous, usually (by abor- 

 tion) 1 -celled, with many seeds and a central placenta, covered 

 by the calyx. Embryo straight. 



1. LYTHRUM. Cal. tubular, cylindrical., with 8 12 teeth ; 

 4 6 broader, erect ; alternate teeth subulate. Pet. 4 6. 

 Stam. as many as, or twice the number of the petals. Style 



filiform. Caps. 2-celled, many-seeded. 



2. PEPLIS. Cal. campanulate with 12 teeth, of which 6 are 

 broader and erect, 6 subulate. Pet. 6, minute, fugacious. 

 Stam. 6. Style very short. Caps. 2-celled, many-seeded. 



1. LYTHRUM Linn. Loosestrife. 



1. L. Salicaria (L.) ; I. lanceolate from a cordate base opposite 

 or whorled, fl. in whorled leafy spikes, bracts 0, subulate calyx- 

 teeth twice as long as the others, stam. 12. E. B. 1061. Upper 

 1. usually falling short of the flowers ; or so large as totally to 

 destroy the spiked appearance of the plant. St. 2 4 feet high 

 and 1. nearly glabrous, or downy with crisped hairs. Fl. large, 

 purple or crimson. Ditch-banks and damp places. P. VII. VIII. 

 Purple Loosestrife. 



2. L. Hyssopifolia (L.) ; I. alternate linear-lanceolate blunt, 

 fl. axillary solitary, bracts 2 minute subulate, calyx-teeth all short, 

 stam. 6. E. B. 292. St. mostly procumbent, spreading, simple 

 or branched. Fl. small, light purple. Glabrous. Damp places 

 where water has stagnated, rare. A. VI. X. E. I. 



2. PEPLIS Linn, Water Purslane. 



1. P. Portula (L.); 1. opposite obovate stalked, fl. axillary 

 solitary sessile. E. B. 1211. St. 1 . 7. Pet. often wanting. Cal.- 

 tube short, vase-shaped, shorter than the capsule. St. 4 6 in. 

 long, prostrate, creeping. Damp places. A. VII. VIII. 



Order XXVIII. TAMARISCACE.E. 



Cal. 4 5-parted, persistent, aestivation imbricate. Pet. 4 5, 

 withering, from the base of the calyx. Stam. equal to or twice 

 as many as the pet., from the margin of a scutelliform disk. 



