LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY 



and style; that is, on different plants in the same group three 

 different forms of flowers will be found, the variations being in 

 the length of the styles and stamens, and relating, it is believed, 

 to their cross-fertilization by insects. 



CUPHEA, CIGAR PLANT 



CAphea ignea. Cuphea platycintra. 



Cuphea, Greek for curved; from the shape of the calyx. 



A delicate perennial, with glossy, dark -green leaves and small tubular 

 flowers, cultivated in greenhouse and for borders. Mexico. 



Stem. — Eight to twelve inches high. 



Leaves. — Opposite, glossy, ovate or lan- 

 ceolate, acute. 



Flowers. — Small, bright vermilion tubes 

 about an inch long, solitary in the axils of 

 the leaves. 



Calyx. — Narrow and tubular, about an 

 inch long, with a short, blunt spur at base; 

 the narrow border and minute teeth dark 

 violet, edged on the upper with white. 



Corolla. — None. 



Stamens. — Eleven or twelve unequal. 



Ovary. — Flat, two-celled, one smaller than 

 the other. 

 Pod. — Enclosed in the calyx. 



Cuphea. Ciiphea ignea 



The Httle Mexican, though tender to frost, makes an excellent 

 border plant, as it supports a continuous bloom. The bright 

 scarlet tubular flowers tipped with a ring of black and white have 

 suggested the common name Cigar Plant. Other species are in 

 cultivation, but this is the old-time favorite. 



