LYTHRARIACEsE. 



441 



campanulate receptacle, thin and membranous, is marginally con- 

 tinuous with the six triangular valvate lobes of the calyx, glandular 

 at the summit ; in the intervals are an equal number of accessory 

 teeth, the origin of which is the same as in Salicaria. To these 

 teeth correspond an equal 



number of Small obtuse Ammannia (Peplis) portula. 



very caducous petals, which 

 are sometimes entirely ab- 

 sent. Much lower, on the 

 internal surface of the re- 

 ceptacle, are inserted six 

 alternipetalous perigynous 

 stamens formed, each, of an 

 enclosed filament and a bi- 



locular, introrse, didymous anther, dehiscing by two longitudinal 

 clefts. The gynaecium is free, formed of an enclosed two-celled ovary, 

 surmounted by a short style with capitate stigmatiferous apex. In 



Ammannia (Suffrenia) flliformis. 



Fig. 418. Flower (f). 



Fig. 419. Long 

 of flower. 



sect. 



^5=^ 



Fig. 420. Flower (£). 



Fig. 421. Diagram. 



Fig. 422. Long. sect, of flower. 



the internal angle of each cell is a placenta supporting an indefinite 

 number of anatropous ovules. The fruit, enclosed in the persistent 

 receptacle, is a membranous and polyspermous capsule, the seeds of 

 which contain, under their thick coats, a fleshy embryo, with oval 

 cotyledons and short radicle. In southern Russia there is a Peplis 

 called P. borysthenica, 1 which differs from P. portula only in the 

 greater length of its style. A genus has been made of it under the 

 name of Middendorffia. 2 Another Peplis, in the United States, P. 

 diandra, 3 type of the genus Didiplis, 4 * is quite similar to our P. 



1 Bess, ex Speeng. St/st. ii. 135. — Ammania 

 !«>} ysthenica DC. Prodr. iii. 78, n. 10. 



2 Teautv. Diss, de Middendorffia, Mém. Sur. 

 êtr. Ac. Petersb. iv. 489, t.4.— Walp. Rep. v. 673. 



3 Nutt. ex DC. Prodr. iii. 77, n. 4. — Ftoliiia 



aguatiea Nutt. (ex DC). 



4 Rapin. At/aut. Journ. (1833) n. 6, p. 23 — 

 Em)L. Gen. Ull.— B. H. Gen. 777, n. 3.— 

 Bi/pobrichia M. 0. Curt. Ton: et Gr. Fl. N.- 

 Amcr. i. 479. 



