156 THE LYTHRUM FAMILY. [Lythrum. 
A considerable family, some of the herbaceous semi-aquatic species dis- 
persed over almost every part of the globe, whilst the larger shrubby or 
arborescent ones spread over the tropics both in the new and the old 
world, They come near to some Hosacee in the insertion of the stamens, 
the position of the ovary, the structure of the seeds, etc., but, independently 
of the structure of the ovary, they are readily known by their entire 
leaves, the lower ones at least always opposite. They are much more 
allied to the splendid and extensive tropical Order of Melastomacee, which 
however has no representative in Europe, and is even but little known in 
our stoves. 
Calyx tubular. Petals longer than its teeth . ‘ , - . 1. LytHRUM. 
Calyx shortly campanulate. Petals minute ornone . 2 . 2, PEPLIS. 
Several species of Cuphea, an American genus of this family, are now 
generally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 
I. LYTHRUM. LYTHRUM. 
Herbs, with sessile, axillary flowers, the upper ones forming long leafy 
spikes. Calyx tubular, with 8,10, or 12 teeth, 4,5, or 6 of them being 
external, and much narrower than the alternate inner ones. Petals 4, 5, 
or 6, longer than the calycine teeth. Stamens as many, or nearly twice as 
many, inserted below the petals on the tube of the calyx. Ovary and 
capsule 2-celled. Stigma borne ona distinct style. 
The genus consists of very few species, spread over the northern hemi- 
sphere of the new as well as the old world. 
Stems 2 feet or more. Leaves all opposite or whorled. Flowers 
large, in a showy, terminal raceme , : ; - 
Stems 6 or 8 inches or less. Upper leaves alternate, narrow. 
Flowers small, with minute petals A : : . 2. LD. hyssopifolium. 
1, G. Salicaria, Linn. (fig, 354). Spiked Lythrum, Purple Loose- 
strife-—Rootstock perennial, with stout, annual, erect stems, 2 or 3 feet 
high, slightly branched, glabrous or softly downy. Leaves opposite or 
sometimes in threes, sessile, and clasping the stem at the base, lanceolate 
and entire, from 2 to 3 inches long. Flowers reddish-purple or pink, in 
rather dense whorls, forming handsome terminal spikes, more or less leafy 
at the base; the upper floral leaves reduced to bracts scarcely longer or 
even shorter than the flowers. Calyx about 3 lines long, with as many 
ribs as teeth, of these the outer ones are subulate, the inner ones short and 
broad. Petals oblong, often near half an inch long. 
In wet ditches and marshy places, throughout Europe and Russian and 
central Asia, in Australia, and North America. Abundant in England, 
Ireland, and southern and western Scotland, very local in the east and 
north. fl. summer. [The flowers of the Purple Loosestrife are trimor- 
phic, differing in the comparative length of the stamens and styles. Thus 
individual plants have—-1. Long styles and medium stamens; 2. Long 
styles and short stamens; 3. Medium styles and long stamens; 4. Medium 
1. ZL. Salicaria. 
styles and short stamens; 5. Short styles and long stamens; 6. Short 
styles and medium stamens. These differences are accompanied with 
others in the colour of the flowers and colour and size of the pollen 
erains, | 
2, &. hyssopifolium, Linn. (fig. 355). Hyssop Lythrum.—A. glabrous 
annual, seldom more than 6 or 8 inches high, the stems slightly branched, 
wore 
