348 



LYTHRACE^. 



[Ammannia. 



1. AMMANNIA, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, 566. 



Annual glabrous herbs growing in damp places ; branches often 4- 

 angular. Leaves opposite and alternate, soinetimes whorled, entire ; 

 stipules 0. Flowers small, axillary, solitary and subsessile, or in 

 small 3-chotomous cymes ; bracteoles usually 2. Calyx campanulate 

 or tubular-campanulate, 3-5-toothed, often with minute interposed 

 teeth or folds. Petals 3-5 or 0, small, inserted between the calyx- 

 teeth. Stamens 2-8, inserted on the calyx-tube. Ovary inclosed 

 in the calyx-tube, 1-5-celled, the septa very thin and often absorbed ; 

 style filiform or short, stigma capitate; ovules very many. Capsule 

 membranous, globose or long-ellipsoid, inclosed in the calyx, 2-3- 

 valved, or irregularly breaking up or circumsciss. Seeds many, 

 nearly covering the axile placentas which often become ultimately free 

 central, small, smooth, round on the back. — Species 30, in trop. or 

 warm temp, zones of the whole world. 



Plowers axillary, sessile, solitary or in spikes, 

 capsule 2-4-valved. 



Calyx in fruit campanulate, longer than 

 "broad. 



reduced 



Flowers solitary in the axils 

 floral leaves 



Flowers in closely packed terminal spikes. 



Leaves orbicular, capsule 4-valved 



Leaves ovate or elliptic, capsule 2- 

 valved 



Calyx in fruit hemispheric, as broad as or 

 broader than long. 



Cal-teeth 4, capsule 2-valved . 



Cal.-teeth 5, capsule 3-valved , 



Flowers in whorls cymes or clusters, cap- 

 sule circumsciss or "bursting irregularly. 



Flowers clustered in the leaf -axils. 



Leaves narrowed to the base . 



Leaves rounded or cordate at the base . 



1. A. peploides. 



2, A. rotundifoUa. 



A. tenuis. 



4. A. pygmoea. 



5. A. pentandra. 



6. A. haccifera. 



7. A. salicifolia. 



Flowers in compound peduncled 

 leaves subauriculate at base. 



cymes, 



Flowers and capsules small . 



Flowers and capsules smaller and more 



numerous 



8. A. senegalensis. 



9. A. multiflora. 



