LYTHRARIEiE. 287 



times becoming 1-celled by the drying of the partition, containing 

 several small seeds, without albumen. 



A considerable family, some of the herbaceous semiaquatic species 

 dispersed 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 Rosacea 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 

 Melastomacece, which however has no representative in Europe, and 

 is even but little known in our stoves. 



Calyx tubular. Petals longer than its teeth ' 1. Lytheum. 



Calyx shortly cainpanulate. Petals minute or none .... 2. Peplis. 



Several species of Cupliea, an American genus of this family, are 

 now generally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



I. LYTHRUM. LYTHEUM. 



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-ceiled. Stigma borne on a distinct style. 



The genus consists of very few species, spread over the northern 

 hemisphere 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 1. Spiked L. 



Stems 6 or 8 inches or less. Upper leaves alternate, narrow. 



Flowers small, with minute petals 2. Hyssop L. 



1. Spiked Lythrum. Lythrum Salicaria, Linn. (Fig. 352.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1061. Purple Loosestrife.) 



Eootstock perennial, with short, 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 



