LTTHEABIEiE. 213 



of a small globular or oblong ovary, crowned by a minute, scarcely percep- 

 tible border, on which is inserted a very small stamen, and from the centre 

 of which proceeds a short, tliread-like style. Fruit a httle, oblong, 1-seeded 

 nut, scarcely a line in length. 



In shallow ponds, and watery ditches, over the greater part of Europe, 

 Russian and central Asia, and North America, especially at high latitudes. 

 In Britain, not near so frequent as the Myriofhyll and Ceratophyll. Fl. 

 summer. The whole plant has a general resemblance, although no affinity, 

 to some of the more slender species of Equisetum, often called Horsetails or 

 even Marestails. 



XXVII. THE LYTKRTJM FAMILY. LYTHEARIE^. 



Herbs, or, in some exotic genera, shrubs or trees, with leaves 

 mostly (at least the lower ones) opposite, entire, and without 

 stipules ; the flowers either axillary or forming terminal ra- 

 cemes or spikes, more or less leafy at the base. Calyx free, 

 tubular or campanulate, with as many, or twice as many, teeth 

 as there are petals. Petals 4, 5, or sometimes more, rarely de- 

 ficient, inserted at the top of the tube of the calyx, crumpled in 

 the bud. Stamens equal to or double the number of the petals 

 (or, in some exotic genera, indefinite), inserted in the tube of 

 the calyx, often lower down than the petals. Style single. 

 Ovary free from the calyx, but generally enclosed within its 

 tube, divided into 2 or more cells, each with several ovules. 

 Capsule of a thin texture, sometimes becoming 1-celled by the 

 drying up of the partition, containing several small seeds, 

 without albumen. 



A considerable &mily, some of the herbaceous semi-aquatic species dis- 

 persed over almost every part of the globe, whilst the larger shrubby or ar- 

 borescent ones spread over the tropics both in the new and the old world. 

 They come near to some Rosacea in the insertion of the stamens, the posi- 

 tion of the ovary, the structure of the seeds, etc., but, independently of the 

 structure of the ovary, they are readily known by their entire leaves, the 

 lower ones at least always opposite. They are mucli more aUied to the 

 splendid and extensive tropical Order of Melastomaceae, which however has 

 no representative in Europe, and is even but Uttle known in our stoves. 



Calyx tubular. Petals longer than its teeth 1. Ltthrum. 



Calyx shortly campanulate. Petals minute or none 2. Peplis. 



Several species of Cvpliea, an American genus of this family, are now ge- 

 nerally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



I. LYTHRXJM. LYTHRUM. 



Herbs, with sessile, axillary flowers, the upper ones forming long leafy 

 spikes. Calyx tubular, with 8, 10, or 12 teeth, 4, 5, or 6 of them being 

 external, and much naiTower than the alternate inner ones. Petals 4, 5, or 



