68 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
The plant is more or less downy, tall, with lanceolate 
leaves, opposite or whorled — or even scattered — and 
cordate at base. 
Our swamp loose-strife ( Decoc/ofl verticillatus or Nesse a 
of our younger days) is very common. It has willowy 
stems which bend over the water and expand at the end 
into a spongy, thickened mass of much physiological 
interest. These stems are four to six angled. The axillary, 
purple flowers are tri-morphic as in the nearlj'^ related 
Lythium and for the same reason. 
It is thus interesting to note how plants, separated by 
wide oceans, have evolved the same habit. Relationship, 
however, would point to the fact that they were not 
always so geographically dissevered. It is almost incon- 
ceivable that plants of the same family should have been 
independently created at these wide intervals. If related, 
as there is no doubt, it is natural to look for the same or 
similar habits. 
The other plants, popularly known as loose-strifes, 
have no relation to those described above. We find these 
recurring instances in one flower language of the duplica- 
tion of names. Scientific apellations, in these latter days, 
are no more stable. We must expect incessant and often 
unjustifiable charge. 
The yellow loose-strifes belong to the primrose family 
and are members of two closely related genera, LysiTna- 
chia and Steironema. To these, perhaps, may be added 
Naumhergia^ the old Lysimachin thyrsiBoray which 
presents some peculiarities separating it from the others. 
The four-leaved loose-strife is one of the flowers of our 
'lull-period," coming after the rush of May and early 
June. It is, from its abundance, the most familiar, unless 
we include the little "money" — Lysimachia nummularia, 
which escapes from gardens and spreads widely. The 
others, some with axillary, others with racemose flowers, 
and all pretty, we see throughout the summer. They add 
very much to the beauty of a summer bouquet. 
Some of the species propogate, partly by bulblets 
