648 FLORA. 



Petioles of the broad floating leaves inflated; flowers rather large, white. 



Fam. 4. Trapaceae. 

 Leaves mostly sessile; petioles, if present, not inflated; flowers small, greenish; seeds 

 with 1 coat. Fam. 5. Haloragidaceae. 



Family 1. LYTHRACEAE Lindl. 



Loosestrife Family. 



Herbs, shrubs, or often trees in tropical regions, mostly with opposite 

 leaves and perfect flowers. Stipules usually none. Calyx persistent, 

 free from the ovary, the limb toothed. Petals as many as the primary 

 calyx-teeth ; inserted on the calyx, or none. Stamens inserted on the 

 calyx. Anthers versatile. Ovary 2-6-celled or sometimes 1 -celled ; style 

 1; ovules co , rarely few, anatropous. Capsule 1 -several-celled. Seeds 

 without endosperm ; cotyledons flat, often auricled at the base. About 

 21 genera and 350 species, of wide distribution. 



Calyx-tube campanulate or hemispheric; flowers regular. 

 Flowers small, axillary, solitary or few ; low herbs. 



Petals 4 in our species; capsule bursting irregularly. 1. Ammannia. 



Petals none; capsule indehiscent. 2. Didiphs. 



Petals 4; capsule septicidally dehiscent. 3. Rotala. 



Flowers large, in axillary cymes; large aquatic shrub. 4. Decodon. 



Calyx-tube cylindric; flowers regular. 5. Ly thrum. 



Calyx-tube tubular, oblique; flowers irregular. 6. Parsonsia. 



1. AMMANNIA L. 



Annual glabrous or glabrate herbs, mostly with 4-angled stems, opposite 

 sessile narrow leaves, and small axillary flowers. Calyx campanulate, globose or 

 ovoid, 4-angled, 4-toothed, often with small accessory teeth in the sinuses. Petals 

 4 in our species, deciduous. Stamens 4-8, inserted on the calyx-tube. Ovary 

 nearly globular, 2-4-celled, bursting irregularly. [Named for Johann Ammann, 

 1699-1741, a German botanist.] About 2 species, of wide distribution. 



Flowers sessile, solitary, or 2-5 together. 



Leaves linear-lanceolate, acuminate; style elongated. 1. A. coccinea. 



Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse; style very short. 2. A. Koehnei. 



Flowers pedicelled, in axillary cymes. 3. A. auriculata. 



i. Ammannia coccinea Rottb. Long-leaved Ammannia. (I. F. f. 2539.) 

 Erect, 1.5-5 dm. high- Leaves obtusely cordate-auriculate and dilated at the 

 somewhat clasping base, entire, 2-8 cm. long. 2-6 mm. wide; flowers 1-5 in each 

 axil, sessile or nearly so; petals purple, fugacious; style very slender, usually more 

 than one-half the length of the capsule. In swamps, Ind. and Iowa to S. Dak., 

 Fla., Mex. and Brazil. July-Sept. 



2. Ammannia Koehnei Britton. Koehne's Ammannia. (I. F. f. 2540.) 

 Erect, 1.5-5 dm. high. Leaves obovate, oblanceolate, or somewhat spatulate, the 

 upper ones clasping and more or less auriculate at the base, the lower narrowed 

 and sessile or tapering into a short petiole; flowers 1-3 together in the axils, sessile; 

 petals fugacious; stamens very short, not exserted; style v&ry short; capsule en- 

 closed by the calyx. In swamps, N. J. to Fla. July -Sept. 



3. Ammannia auriculata Willd. Wright's Ammannia. (I. F. f. 2541.) 

 Erect, 5-25 cm. high. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate or oblong, acute or acutish 

 at the apex, auriculate at the base, 1-4 cm. long; cymes peduncled; pedicels 1-3 

 mm. long; petals purple; style slender; stamens exserted; capsule partly enclosed 

 by the calyx. Neb. to Tex. and Brazil. Also in Asia and Africa. May-June. 



2. DIDIPLIS Raf. 



Aquatic or marsh plants, with 4-angled stems, opposite narrow entire leaves, 

 and small axillary solitary green flowers. Calyx hemispheric or campanulate, 

 4-lobed, with no accessory teeth. Stamens 2-4, usually 4, inserted on the calyx- 



