286 



THE LYTHRUM FAMILY. 



stems, the upper part projecting out of 

 the water sometimes to the height of 8 

 or 10 inches, and crowded in their whole 

 length by whorls of from 8 to 12 linear 

 entire leaves ; the submerged ones, when 

 in deep streams, often two or three inches 

 long, gradually diminishing till the up- 

 per ones are less than half an inch. 

 Flowers minute, sessile in the axils of 

 the upper leaves, consisting of a small 

 globular or oblong ovary, crowned by a 

 minute, scarcely perceptible border, on 

 which is inserted a very small stamen, 

 and from the centre of which proceeds a 

 short, thread-like style. Fruit a little, 

 oblong, 1-seeded nut, scarcely a line in 

 length. 



In shallow ponds, and watery ditches, 

 over the greater part of Europe, Russian 

 and central Asia, and North America, especially at high latitudes. In 

 Britain, not near so frequent as the Myriophyll and Ceratophyll. Fl. 

 summer. The whole plant has a general resemblance, although no 

 affinity, to some of the more slender species of Equisetum, often called 

 Horsetails or even Marestails. 



Fig. 351. 



XXVII. THE LYTHRUM FAMILY. LYTHRARIE^. 



Herbs, or, in some exotic genera, shrubs or trees, with leaves 

 mostly (at least the lower ones) opposite, entire, and without 

 stipules ; the flowers either axillary or forming terminal racemes 

 or spikes, more or less leafy at the base. Calyx free, tubular or 

 campanulate, with as many, or twice as many, teeth as there are 

 petals. Petals 4, 5, or sometimes more, rarely deficient, inserted 

 at the top of the tube of the calyx, crumpled in the bud. Stamens 

 equal to or double the number of the petals (or, in some exotic 

 genera, indefinite), inserted in the tube of the calyx, often lower 

 down than the petals. Style single. Ovary free from the calyx, 

 but generally enclosed within its tube, divided into 2 or more 

 cells, each with several ovules. Capsule of a thin texture, some- 



