CALYOANTHACEjE — LYTHEAOE^. 487 



Order 67. — Oalycanthace^, the Calycantlius Family. {Poly-pet. 

 Perigyn) Sepals and petals confounded, indefinite, combined ia a 

 fleshy receptacle ; sestiyation imbricated. Stamens on, perigynous ; 

 anthers adnate, extrorse, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovaries 

 several, 1-celled, adhering to the tube of the calyx ; ovules solitary or 

 two, one above the other, anatropal ; style terminal. Fruit consisting 

 of acheenia enclosed in the fleshy receptacle. Seed exalbuminous ; 

 embryo straight ; cotyledons convolute ; radicle inferior. — Shrubs, with 

 square stems, consisting of a central woody mass, with four smaller 

 ones around (p. 61) ; leaves opposite, simple, scabroiis, exstipulate. 

 By many authors this order is placed between Dilleniaceae and Mag- 

 noliacese. The plants are natives of North America and Japan. Their 

 flowers are aromatic ; the bark of some is used as a carminative. 

 Calycanthus fioridus is called Carolina or common Americap Allspice. 

 The order includes 2 genera and 3 species. Examples — Calycanthus, 

 Chimonanthus. 



Order 68. — LYTHEACEiE, the Loosestrife Family. {Polypet. Perigyn.) 

 Calyx tubular, lobed, the lobes sometimes with intermediate lobes or 

 teeth ; sestivation valvate. Petals alternate with the primary lobes 

 of the calyx, very deciduous, sometimes 0. Stamens inserted into 

 the tube of the calyx a little below the petals, equal in number to 

 them, or two, three, or four times as many ; anthers adnate, dithecal, 

 introrse, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary superior, 2-6-celled ; 

 ovules numerous, anatropal ; style filiform ; stigma usually capitate. 

 Fruit a dehiscent membranous capsule, surrounded by the calyx, but 

 not adherent to it, sometimes 1-celled by the obliteration of the dis- 

 sepiments. Seeds numerous, small, apterous, or winged, exalbuminous, 

 attached to a central placenta ; embryo straight ; cotyledons flat and 

 foliaceous ; radicle next the hilum. — Herbs and shrubs, with branches 

 which are usually tetragonal, and with opposite, rarely alternate, entire, 

 exstipulate leaves without glands. They are natives of Europe, North 

 and South America, and India. Authors give 30 genera, including 

 about 250 species. Examples — Lythrum, Cuphea, Lagerstromia. 



Many of the plants of the order are distinguished by astringent 

 properties, and some are used for dyeing. LyOvrvm Salicaria, Purple 

 Loosestrife, or Willowstrife, a European plant, found also in Australia, 

 has been used in cases of diarrhoea, on account of the tannin in its 

 composition. Its flowers are trimorphic (p. 285). The flowers of 

 Orislea tomentosa are employed in India, mixed with Morinda, for dye- 

 ing, under the name of Dhaee. Hevmia salicifolia is said to possess 

 diaphoretic properties, and is considered by the Mexicans as a potent 

 remedy for venereal diseases. The Henna, or Alhenna of the Arabs, 

 which is used in Egypt for dyeing orange, is the product of Lawsonia 

 inermis. The Gupheas are remarkable for the mode in which the pla- 



