450 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



anthers short, 2-dymous. Germen free, shortly stipate hence eccen- 

 trically inserted a little above the base of the tube, somewhat 

 obliquely compressed, by abortion 1-locular; style slender, at apex 

 stigmatose simple, generally not dilated. Ovules few (often 4), in- 

 serted 2-seriately on parietal placenta, ascending; micropyle extrorsely 

 inferior. Fruit capsular membranous, enclosed in receptacle, few- 

 seeded. Seeds 1-4, ascending; testa coriaceous ; cotyledons of sub- 

 clavate embryo plano-convex, auriculate at base ; radicle inferior 

 rather thick. — Herbs or shrubs divaricately rimose ; leaves opposite, 

 linear or lanceolate, coriaceous rigid, often venose, sharp pointed ; 

 flowers spicate ; bracts sub-4-seriate, imbricate, oftener 1-florous; 

 bracteoles sometimes rigid, often inserted higher under the flower. 1 

 (Chili.-) 



3. Nessea Commers. 3 — Flowers (nearly of Lythrum) regular; re- 

 ceptacle much shorter subcampanulate or obconical straight, externally 

 8-14-costate ; sepals 4-7, 3-angular-valvate ; accessory teeth same in 

 number narrower. Petals 4-7 (of Lythrum). Stamens 8-14, inserted 

 2-seriately in receptacular tube ; filaments slender exserted ; anthers 

 introrse, various in form. 4 Germen free, 2-(j-locular ; style slender 

 flexuose exserted, at apex stigmatose capitate. Ovules in cells go , 

 inserted on placenta in internal angle co -seriate. Fruit capsular, 

 enclosed in receptacle, loculicidally 2-6-valvate ; valves septiferous, 

 finally solute from placenta. Seeds co ; testa coriaceous ; cotyledons 

 of exalbuminous embryo plano-convex. Other characters of Lythrum. 

 — Herbs or undershrubs; branches 4-gonal; leaves opposite or 3-nate; 

 entire ; flowers 5 in axils of leaves or bracts inserted in terminal 

 raceme solitary or oftener cymose ; peduncles sometimes more or 

 less highly 2-bracteolate." ( Warm America and Africa. 7 ) 



1 A genus scarcely distinguishable from 4 Either oblong or 2-dymous- " Pollen (ex 



lythrum. H. Mom, Ann. Sc. Nat. sér. 2, iii. 331) ellipsoid 



- Spec. 3, 4. Coll. PI. Chil. t. 14 (Lythrum). 3-plicate, but in water spherical, 3-banded." 

 Hook, and Arn. Bot. Mise i. 225, t. 3. — Pcsrr. ' Often yellow, sometimes purple or bluish. 



et Endl. Nov. Gen. et Sp. ii. 67, t. 193.— C. Gay, 6 Sect, in gen. 3 (B. H.) : 1. Decodon : stem 



/•/. Chil. ii. 369. — Walp. Sep. ii. 10.5; Ann. ii. herbaceous; inflorescence corymbifbrm, co -flo- 



540; iv. 689. rous ; petals purple ; stamens 10 (North Amer.). 



* Ex J. Gen. 332. — DC. Mêm. Soc. Gen. iii. p. — 2. Heimia : peduncles 1-florous; braeteoles 



ii. 74 ; Prodr. iii. 90. — Endl. Gen. n. 6147. — B. under calyx 2 ; petals yellow ; stamens oftener 



H. Gen. 779, n. 12. — H. B.\. Payer Fan,. Nat. 12; stem subshrubby (Amer. Trop. Afr.). — 3. 



354. — Decodon Gmel. Syst. Veg. 677. — DC. Euneseea : peduncles 3-x> -florous, 2-bracteate at 



Prodr. iii. 90. — Seimia Link et Ott. Ic. PI. 63, base; terminal 2-bracteolate ; stem herbaceous 



t. 28. — DC. Prodr. iii. 89. — Spaçh, Suit, à Buffon, or subshrubby; flowers purple or sometimes 



iv. 428.— Baker, PI. Maurit. 100. — Ohrysoliga bluish (Trop. Afr. Malacca). 

 W. (ex DC.).— Gim ria Sesb. et Moç. (ex DC), » Spec. 10-12. Hook. Icon. t. 554.— Torr. PI 



notjAi:ci.—Tol!/patmaE.~M.EY.(exEND-L.loc.cit.) New York, i. t. 28. — Wight, Icon. t. 259. — 



