FAM. 125. 99 



longer; leaves lanceolate, with 3 prominent veins; — stem vil- 

 lous-hirsute. Simple or branched, nearly terete; flowers in cymes, 

 pale or deep-purple. Sandy swamps. Summer and Fall. R. Mariana 



4. Neck of the mature calyx shorter than the globose capsular portion; 

 leaves lanceolate to linear, almost entire, leathery; — stem ob- 

 scurely 4-angled. glabrous; flowers in cymes; petals purple. 

 Moist pine-land. Summer. ------ R. glabella 



125. Lythraceae, Loosestrife Family. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with exstipulate leaves and per- 

 fect flowers, solitary or in inflorescences; calyx tubular, 

 4-7 toothed, the sinuses often appendaged; petals as many 

 as the teeth of the calyx, and inserted in its throat, some- 

 times wanting; stamens as many as the petals, or 2-4 times 

 as many, inserted below the petals; ovary 2-6 celled, free; 

 style 1 ; fruit a capsule. 



1. Calyx cylindrical, fluted; — herbs with angled stems and opposite 

 or alternate entire leaves; flowers axillary or in terminal spikes 

 or racemes; ovary 2-celled. ------- Lythrum 



L. lineare. With 4-angled branching stems and opposite, linear, sessile leaves; 

 flowers dimorphous, pale-purple or pink. Marshes near the coast. Summer. 



L. lanceolatum. With angled or slightly winged stem and strongly ascending 

 branches; leaves chiefly alternate, elliptic, sessile; flowers purple; stamens 

 included. Low ground. Summer. 



1. Calyx campanulate or turbinate, -------2 



2. Herbs with inconspicuous flowers; — stem 4-angled ; simple or branched; 



flowers solitary or cymose, axillary; calyx 4, often with 4 teeth in 

 the sinuses; petals 4; stamens 4-8; ovary 2-4 celled. Ditches. 

 Late Summer. -------- Ammannia 



A. Koehnei Uatifolia). Leaves spatulate or oblanceolate; flowers 1-3, pink- 

 ish. 



A. coccinea. Leaves linear to lanceolate; flowers 1-5, purplish. 

 2. Aquatic shrubs; — leaves opposite or whorled; flowers in axillary 

 cymes, purple; calyx 4-7, with teeth in the sinuses; petals 4-7; 

 stamens 10 or 8; ovary 3-6 celled; capsule 3-6 valved. - - Decodon 



D. verticillatus (Nesaea verticillata), Swamp Loosestrife. The submerged por- 

 tion of the stem coated with spongy tissue; leaves lanceolate, often undu- 

 late. In marshes and ponds. Summer. 



2. Shrubs or small trees. Cultivated. --------3 



3. Opposite or whorled branches, and mainly opposite leaves; flowers 



showy in terminal panicles; calyx 6-parted; petals 6, crisped; 

 stamens numerous; ovary 1-6 celled, capsule 3-6 valved; seeds 

 flattened, winged above. ------ Lagerstroemia 



L. Indica, C rape-myrtle. Petals purple, pink or white. Summer. 

 3. Somewhat spiny branches with opposite leaves; fragrant flowers in 

 spikes and panicles; calyx 4-parted; petals 4 stamens 8; capsule 

 4-celled. - ...... Lawsonia, Henna Bush* 



L. alba inermis anl L. rubra, resp. with white and I MS. 



.so known as the Camphtre of Solomon. 



