134 LTTHRACE^E. (LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY.) 



2. AMMANNIA, Houston. 



Calyx globular or campanulate, 4-angled, 4-toothed, the sinuses commonly 

 furnished with a small horn-shaped appendage. Petals 4, small, deciduous, 

 sometimes wanting. Stamens 4, short. Stigma capitate. Capsule globular, 

 4-celled, many-seeded. Low smooth annual herbs, with opposite leaves, and 

 solitary or clustered axillary flowers. 



1. A. humilis, Michx. Stem branching from the base ; leaves lanceolate, 

 tapering into a petiole ; flowers solitary ; style very short ; petals 4, purplish. 

 Varies with the leaves dilated and somewhat cordate at the base, and the lower 

 flowers clustered. (A. ramosior, MicJix.) Ditches and muddy places, Florida 

 to Mississippi, and northward. August and September. Stem 6' - 12' high. 



2. A. occidentalis, DC. Stem nearly simple, ascending, rooting at the 

 base ; leaves lanceolate, narrowed into a petiole ; flowers solitary, apetalous ; 

 calyx 8-toothed. 



Var. pygmsea. Stem very short ('-!' long); sinuses of the calyx ap- 

 pendaged, emarginate, as long as the teeth ; style short. Key West, Dr. 

 Blodgett. Leaves obtuse. Stem 1 T 6-flowered. 



3. LYTHRUM, L. LOOSESTRIFE. 



Calyx cylindrical, striate, 4 - 7-toothed, usually with minute appendages in the 

 sinuses. Petals 4-7. Stamens as many as the petals, or twice as many, in- 

 serted on the lower part of the calyx, nearly equal. Capsule oblong, 2-celled, 

 many-seeded. Herbs, with opposite or alternate leaves, and axillary purple or 

 whitish flowers. 



1. L. alatum, Pursh. Smooth; stem and virgate branches 4-angled; 

 leaves lanceolate, acute at both ends, opposite, the uppermost alternate, and 

 shorter than the flowers ; petals and stamens 6. Varies with branches shorter, 

 leaves larger (2' long), broadly lanceolate, sometimes whorled, the uppermost 

 twice as long as the calyx. (L. lanceolatum, Ell.) Swamps and river-banks, 

 Florida and northward. July - September. Stem 2 - 4 high. Flowers 

 violet-purple. 



2. L. lineare, L. Smooth ; stem 4-angled, much branched ; leaves all 

 opposite, linear ; flowers small, whitish ; petals and stamens 6. Brackish 

 marshes, Florida and northward. August. Stem 2 - 4 high. Calyx-teeth 

 short. 



4. NES^A, Commerson. 



Calyx hemispherical or campanulate, with 4-7 erect teeth, and as many longer 

 and spreading horn-like appendages in the sinuses. Petals 4-7. Stamens 

 twice as many as the petals. Capsule globose, 3 - 4-celled. Perennial herbs 

 or shrubby plants, with opposite or whorled leaves, and clustered pedicelled 

 flowers in their axils. 



1. N. verticillata, H.B.K. Shrubby; stems pubescent, recurved; leaves 

 opposite and whorled, lanceolate, tomentose beneath ; peduncles short, 3 or 



