ORDER XLVII. LTTHRACE^E. 811 



calyx. Style filiform. Capsule 2-celled, many-seeded, in- 

 closed in the calyx. Herbaceous, glabrous plants, with entire 

 leaves. 



1. L. lanceola'tum, (Ell.) Stem erect, quadrangular, slightly mar- 

 gined ; branches long near the summit, slender, glabrous. Leaven lan- 

 ceolate, acute, sessile, opposite on the stem, alternate, and crowded on 

 the branches. Flowers solitary, axillary. Calyx furrowed. Petals 6, 

 oblong, double the length of the calyx. Stamens 6. Capsule oblong. — 

 Purple. If. July — Aug. Ditches, swamps. 3 — 4 feet. 



2. L. ala'tum, (Pursh.) Stem glabrous, quadrangular, slightly wing- 

 ed. Leaves opposite, cordate, ovate, on short petioles. Flowers axil- 

 lary, solitary. Calyx striate. Stigma capitate. Capsule cylindrical. 

 — Bright purple. If. June — July. Lower Georgia. 3 — 4 feet. 



3. L. linea're, (L.) Stem glabrous, slender, virgate, branched at the 

 summit, angular, margined. Leaves linear, acute, generally opposite, 

 upper ones smallest. Flowers axillary, solitary, small. Calyx some- 

 what striate. Petals 6. Stamens 6. — Nearly white. If. July — Aug. 

 On the coast. 3 — 4 feet. 



Genus IV.— DEC'ODON. Gmel. 10—1. 

 (From the Greek dekas, ten, and odous, a tooth, from the ten teeth of the calyx.) 



Calyx short, campanulate, with 5 erect teeth and 5 subulate, 

 spreading processes. Petals 5. Stamens 10, with the alter- 

 nate ones very long. Stigma small, on a filiform style. Cap- 

 sule globose, 3-celled. Seeds numerous, minute. Perennial 

 plant, with opposite, entire leaves and axillary flowers. 



1. D. verticjlla'tum, (Ell.) Stem recurved, pubescent. Leaves lan- 

 ceolate, acute, entire ; a little hairy on the upper surface, tomentose on 

 the under. Flowers 3 or more, at the summit of a short peduncle, 

 rather large, showy. — Purple. If. Aug.— Sept. In damp soils. 3 — 



4 feet 



Genus V.— CU'PHEA. Jacq. 11—1. 

 (From the Greek kuphos, curved, from the shape of the capsule.) 



Calyx tubular, ventricose, 6-toothed, and generally with as 

 many intermediate processes. Petals 6, unequal. Stamens 

 12, unequal. Style filiform. Capsule membranaceous, 1 — 2- 

 celled. Seeds orbicular, compressed. Herbaceous plants, with 

 opposite leaves ; calyx colored. 



1. C. viscosis'sima, (Jacq.) Plant viscid, pubescent. Stem erect, 

 branching. Leaves opposite, ovate-lanceolate, scabrous, on slender pet- 

 ioles. Flowers solitary, on short peduncles. Calyx ribbed, gibbous at 

 the base, viscid. Petals unguiculate. Stamens 1 2. Capsule oblong. 

 Seeds few; capsule opening before the seeds are ripe. — Violet. Q* 

 July — Aug. Mountains. 12 — 15 inches. 



