98 



CALYCIFLOR.E 



above characteristics and tlieir mostly having opposite, entire 

 leaves without stipules, and four-cornered stems. Many of the 

 plants of this tribe possess astringent properties, and some are used 

 for dyeing. Lawsonia inermis is a plant from which the Henna of 

 Egypt is obtained. It is used by the women of that country to 

 stain their nails an orange colour, and is also employed for dyeing 

 morocco leather reddish-yellow. 



1. I-YTHRUM (Purple Loosestrife). — Calyx cylindrical, with 12 

 divisions, alternately smaller ; -petals 6 ; stamens 6 or 12 ; style 

 long. (Name from the Greek, Ivthron, blood, from the colour of 

 the flowers.) 



2. Peplis (Water Purslane). — Calyx bell-shaped, with 12 divi- 

 sions, alternately smaller ; petals 6, minute, soon falling off, or 

 absent ; stamens 6 ; style very short. (Name from the Greek, 

 peplion, purslane, anciently the name of another genus.) 



I. Lytheum [Purple Loosestrife) 



1. L. salicaria (Purple Loosestrife or Willowstrife). — Leaves 

 opposite, long, and narrow, heart-shaped at the base ; f.owcrs 

 whorled, in leafy spikes ; stamens 12. An exceedingly handsome 

 plant, 2-4 feet high, generally growing on river banks, among 

 sedges and rushes, and sending up tall tapering spikes of purple 

 flowers, which, seen from a distance, might be mistaken for Fox- 

 gloves. The stamens are arranged in two whorls, those of each 

 whorl of a different length to the style ; the style in some instances 

 being longer than the stamens, in others shorter, and in others of 

 a length between that of the stamens of the two whorls. Watery 

 places ; abundant. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



2. /.. hvssopifolia (Hyssop-leaved Purple Loosestrife). — A much 

 smaller plant, 4-8 inches high ; lower leaves opposite, upper alter- 

 nate ; flowers small, purple, solitary, sessile in 

 the upper leaf axils ; stamens 6, It grows in 



^3!«^ moist places in the south of England, but is 

 far from common. 



2. Peplis {Water Purslane) 



I. P. Portula (Watef- Purslane). — A humble, 

 creeping, aquatic plant, with opposite, smooth 

 leaves, 4 - angled stems, and inconspicuous 

 axillary flowers. The stems are usually more 

 or less tinged with red ; and when the plant 

 grows in places from' which the water has 

 dried up the leaves acquire the same hue. 

 Common. — Fl. July, August. Annual, 



Peplis Portula 

 [Water Purslane) 



