488 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



racemes. Calyx straight or oblique, generally ribbed. 

 Petals 4, 5, or 6, or wanting. Stamens 8, or more. Fruit a 

 membranous capsule, enclosed in a persistent calyx. 



About 300 species constitute this family , which are widely 

 dispersed, being represented in India by the beautiful shrub 

 Lagerstrcemia indica, a well known plant in the greenhouses 

 of this country ; and in Brazil by the equally beautiful 

 shrubby genus Diplusodon, none of which have yet been 

 introduced. 



Ly thrum Salicaria. This is one of our most beautiful 

 British plants, growing on margins of rivers, ponds, and 

 watery places. It attains the height of 2 to 3 feet, termi- 

 nating in spikes of bluish pink flowers. 



Henna or Khenna (Lawsonia inermis). A native of 

 Western Asia, Egypt, and African coasts of the Mediter- 

 ranean. It is a shrub 8 to 10 feet high, having oval lance- 

 shaped leaves, and panicles of white sweet-smelling flowers. 

 It is of ancient repute as a cosmetic, the leaves being 

 powdered and made into a paste, and used in Egypt for 

 colouring the finger nails and the hair and beard, im- 

 parting a yellow colour, which is considered to add to 

 beauty ; the manes of horses were even coloured with it. 

 This practice has descended from very remote ages, as 

 proved by" the evidence of Egyptian mummies. It was also 

 in early repute amongst the Hebrews, being the plant spoken 

 of in the Song of Solomon* under the name of Camphire. 

 In- Jamaica it has become naturalized, and is there called 

 Jamaica Mignonette. This plant sometimes becomes spiny, 

 and is known under the names of L. spinosa and L. alba, 

 but they, are now considered to be only one species. 



Jarool or Bloodwood {Lagerstrcemia regince). A large 

 timber tree, with blood-red coloured wood. It is a native 

 of the Peninsula and other parts of India and Burmah, and 

 on account of its great durability in water is much used for 

 boat and shipbuilding, and other purposes. 



* Chap. i. ver. 14 ; and chap. iv. ver. 13. 



