2 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



are opposite the smaller teeth of the calyx. Stamens 2 to 12, 

 inserted ahout the middle or near the hase of the calyx. Style 

 filiform ; stigma capitate. Capsule included in the calyx-tube, 

 ovoid or cylindrical, 2-celled, sometimes splitting irregularly, some- 

 times opening by 2 valves, in which case the placentae are left 

 combined. Seeds numerous, plano-convex, or angulated, with a 

 leathery testa. 



Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubby, -with alternate, 

 opposite, or verticillate entire leaves and axillary purple flowers. 



The name of this genus of plants is supposed to be derived from the Greek word 

 XvOfjof (luthron), black blood, on account of the purple colour of the flowers. 



SPECIES I.-LYTHRUM SALICARIA. Linn. 

 Plate CCCCXCI. 



Eootstock somewhat creeping. Stems erect, or erect from a 

 decumbent base, with 4 or 6 slightly winged angles. Leaves 

 opposite or in whorls of 3 or sometimes 4, sessile, semi-amplexicaul, 

 oblong - lanceolate, subcordate at the base, acute at the apex. 

 Flowers very shortly pedicellate, in false whorls formed by oppo- 

 site subsessile axillary glomerules, which are 2- to 15-flowered and 

 arranged in a terminal, usually leafy spike. Pedicels sometimes 

 with 1 or 2 subulate bracteoles at the base, sometimes naked. 

 Calyx pubescent, cylindrical, 12-nerved ; the 6 inner teeth deltoid, 

 6 outer twice as long, and linear-lanceolate. Petals 6 to 8 times 

 the length of the longer calyx-teeth. Stamens 12. Capsule ovoid. 



In wet places. Common and generally distributed in England, 

 and rather common in the west of Scotland, as far north as 

 Argyleshire, but very local in the east, where I have only seen it 

 at Loch Gelly, in Fifeshire, though it was noticed by Professor 

 Graham by Loch Lubnaig, in Perthshire. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Stems tough, 2 to 5 feet high, usually much branched ; branches 

 ascending. Leaves entire, 2 to 6 inches long by i to 1 inch broad. 

 Calyx about £ inch long, with the tube about -1 or 5 times as long 

 as the teeth, cylindrical when in flower, ovate-cylindrical in fruit. 

 Pedicels shorter than the calyx-tube, united into a common peduncle 

 at the base, which, however, has scarcely any appreciable length. 

 Flowers f to 1 inch across, bright reddish-purple, with yellow or 

 violet anthers. Petals oblong, elliptical, crumpled. Style exserted or 



