196 Lythrarice—Cuphea. 
the throat of the calyx-tube. Capsule free, 2-celled, included 
in the calyx. There are nearly one hundred species, natives of 
tropical and sub-tropical America. Name from cups, curved, 
referring to the form of the calyx and seed-vessel in some 
species. 
1. C. ignea, syn. C. platycéntra of gardens. This is the 
species commonly grown, having nearly glabrous lanceolate 
leaves and apetalous bright scarlet flowers with a black and 
white little-expanded limb. It is a perennial species from 
Mexico. 
C. viscosissima is a viscid annual with dull purple petals 
and a green calyx-tube; C. silenoides with the general ap- 
pearance of a Silene has purple unequal petals and calyx; 
C. strigillosa is a perennial with hairy cordate leaves, orange 
calyx-tube, and 2 small purple petals; C. Jorullénsis, syn. 
C. éminens, is a very handsome species with glabrous linear- 
lanceolate leaves and large apetalous orange and red flowers. 
2. LYTHRUM. 
Herbs or undershrubs with 4-angled stems. Leaves opposite 
or whorled, entire. Flowers in the axil of the upper leaves, 
cymose or solitary. Calyx-tube costate, straight, equal at the 
base, 4- to 6-toothed, with an equal number of secondary ones. 
Petals 4 or 6, large. Stamens 8 to 12, variable in differ- 
ent individuals of the same species. Capsule 1- or 2-celled. 
About twelve species are found in temperate and tropical 
regions. The name is adapted from AvOpor, gore, from the deep 
red colour of the flowers. 
1. ZL. Salicaria. Purple Loosestrife—One of our most 
showy native plants, growing in marshy places and on the 
borders of rivulets. Stems about 3 or 4 feet high, the upper 
portion clothed with rosy purple flowers. There are improved 
varieties in cultivation, the best of which is that named résewm 
supérbum. 
Orprr XLVII.—ONAGRARIE. 
Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves opposite and 
alternate, usually entire. Flowers often showy, axillary and 
solitary, or in terminal racemes or panicles. Calyx-tube adnate 
to the ovary; limb with usually 2 or 4 valvate large lobes. 
