OnagraceiB.] onaoracev*;. 109 



nate, in some others opposite, undivided unless under water, tootlied, without 

 stipules. Elowers solitary in the axils of the leaves or in terminal spikes or 

 racemes. 



A coiisideraMe Order, ranging over the whole world, but in greatest variety in North 

 America. The Haloragece, sometimes considered as a tribe of Onagraceie much reduced in 

 structure, will be found below, next to Comaeea. 



Calyx-lobes and petals 4. Stamens 8 . . . 1. JussiiEA. 



Calyx-lobes, petals, and stamens 4 each . . . 2. Ludwigia. 



1. JUSSI-ffilA, Linn. 



Calyx-tube not produced above the ovary ; the limb divided to the base into 

 4 or rarely 5 segments. Petals as many. Stamens twice as many. Stigma 

 capitate. Capsules 4- or 5-celled, crowned by the calyx-segments and open- 

 ing longitudinally between the ribs. Seeds numerous, small, without any 

 appendage. — Herbs. Leaves alternate. Mowers axillary, solitary, yellow or 

 rarely white. 



A genus of several American species, with a very few spread over Africa and Asia. 



1. J. villosa. Lam.; W. and Am. Prod. M. Penins. i. 336. An erect per- 

 ennial, pubescent or hairy, attaining 2 to 3 ft., and often hard, almost woody, 

 at the base. Leaves from oblong to linear-lanceolate, 1^ to 3 in. long, nar- 

 rowed into a short petiole. Flowers almost sessile in the axils. Calyx-tube 

 about \ in. long when iu flower ; the segments ovate-lanceolate, about 3 lines. 

 Petals broad, rather longer than the calyx. Capsule nearly cylindrical, 1 to 1^ 

 in. long, 8 -ribbed, piibeseent, contracted at the base into a short pedicel. 

 Seeds minute. — J. octofila, DC. Prod. iii. 57, and the synonyms adduced by 

 Wight and Arnott as quoted above. 



Iu wet pastures, cultivated and waste places. Champion, and others. Widely distributed 

 over the warmer regions of America as well as Asia, and perhaps Africa. 



a. LUDWIGIA, Linn. 



Characters and habit of Jussicea, except that the stamens are of the same 

 number as the petals or calyx-segments, not twice the number. Flowers 

 usually smaller. 



A small genus, common to N. America, Europe, and Asia. 



1. Ii. parviflora, Roxb. ; W. and Am. Prod. M. Penins. i. 336 ; Wight, 

 Illustr. t. 101. An annual, sometimes erect and much branched, scarcely 6 

 in. high, sometimes spreading to the length of a foot or more. Leaves naiTow- 

 laneeolate, I to 3 in. long. Flowers on short pedicels, much smaller than in 

 the above Jussiaa. Calyx-segments scarcely 1 line long. Petals not longer, 

 oblong. Capsule oblong, tetragonous, 8 to 4 lines bng, nearly 1^ lines broad. 

 L. jussiaoides, Wall. Catal. n. 6335, non Lam. 



In wet pastures, but not common. Champion. Widely spread over Bast India. The other 

 common East Indian species, L. jussiaoides, Lima., not Lam., with a still smaller ilower and 

 very slender capsule, has not as yet been found in Hongkong. 



Ordeu XXXIX. EHIZOPHORE^. 



Calyx-tube usually adhering to the ovary, sometimes prolonged above it, or 

 r.irely quite free ; the limb of 4 to about 12 lobes, valvate in the bud. Petals 



