MIDDLESEX FLORA. 39 



MELASTOMACE/E. MELASTOMA FAMILY. 



Ehexia, L. 



R. Virginica, L. Meadow Beauty. 

 Not uncommon. July-Aug. 



LYTHRACE.^:. LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. 



Ammannia, Houston. 



A. humilis, Michx. 

 Winchester, Winter Pond (Dr. C. W. Swan). Eare. July-Sept. 



Ltthkum, L. 



L. Hyssopifolia, L. Loosestrife. 

 Maiden (W. H. Manning; Mrs. C. E. Pease); Medford (Wm. 

 Boott) ; Arlington (F. S. Collins). Eare. July. 



X. alatum, Purah. 

 Chelmsford (Miss C. E. Preston). Probably introduced in western 

 wool. June-Aug. 



L. Salicaria, L. Spiked Loosestrife. 

 Chelmsford (W. H. Manning) ; Ashland, rather common (Eev. 

 Thos. Morong) ; Framingham (Eev. J. H. Temple). Eare north- 

 ward. July-Aug. Possibly introduced. 



X. acutangulum. Lag. 

 Lowell, a single specimen on the sandy bank of the Merrimac (Dr. 

 C. W. Swan). 



"Herbaceous, leaves alternate, linear, lanceolate; pedicels short, 

 erect even in fruit; bractlets acute, very small; petals 6, oblong- 

 ovate; stamens 12." DC. Prodr. Ill, 82. 



NesjEA, Commerson, Juss. 



N. verticillata, HBK. Swamp Loosestrife. 

 Common, especially in the northern part of the county. July-Aug. 



CACTACE.,^. CACTUS FAMILY. 



Opuntia, Tourn. 



*0. VULGARIS, Haworth. Prickly Pear. 



N. Beading, bank of the Ipswich river (J. Eobinson, Flora of 

 Essex). June-July. Int. from farther south. 



