THE LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY 
[ORDER XXXI. LYTHRARIEiE] 
T HIS is a fairly large order, distributed over most parts of the world, thriving in the tropics, 
where its members are generally trees and shrubs with very gorgeous flowers. Many 
species are semi-aquatic. 
Some of the Lagerstromias, beautiful flowering trees and shrubs of India and China, are 
occasionally cultivated in our gardens, as are many species of Cuphea, natives of America. 
Several of the tropical members yield dyes. Lawsonia inermis is the Henna or Alkanna with 
which the Egyptian ladies have for ages stained their nails an orange yellow. 
WATER PURSLANE. (PEPLIS, LINN.) —Flowers small, nearly stalkless, solitary, in the axils 
of the leaves. Sepals 12, united into a bell-shaped tube (campanulate), and separating into 
1 2 teeth in two rows, remaining with the fruit (persistent) ; petals 6, very small, inserted on the 
top of the calyx-tube, frequently absent; stamens 6-12, inserted on the top of the calyx-tube; 
carpels 2, united into a seedcase, a single style, and a clustered stigma. Capsule round, 2-celled, 
many-seeded, splitting irregularly. Small herbs, with opposite, entire, oval leaves. 
Water Purslane. (Peplis Portula, Linn.) — The only British species (as just described). 
The flowers inconspicuous, the petals pink when present ; the stems 2 inches- 1 foot long, 4-angled. 
The whole plant is smooth (glabrous), fleshy, dull green and generally tinged with red. [ Plate 46. 
Uncommon. Wet places. July — August. Annual. 
PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE. (LYTHRUM, LINN.) — Flowers large, stalkless, purple, solitary, or in 
clusters in the axils of the leaves, forming long, leafy spikes. Sepals 8-12, united into a tube and 
terminating in the same number of teeth, in 2 rows; petals 4-6, inserted on the -top of the 
calyx-tube; stamens 2-12, inserted about the middle of the calyx-tube; carpels 2, united into a 
seedcase, a long style, and a clustered stigma. Capsule oval or cylindrical, 2-celled, many-seeded, 
opening at the top by 2 valves or splitting irregularly. Herbs or shrubs, with entire leaves. 
Purple Loosestrife. (Lythrum Salicaria, Linn.) — As just described. The flowers large, 
f-i inch across, bright reddish-purple with yellow or violet anthers, in clusters in the axils of the 
leaves, forming long leafy terminal spikes ; the capsule oval ; the stem 2-5 feet high, erect, angled, 
tough, and usually much branched ; the leaves entire, lance-shaped, stalkless (sessile), clasping the 
stem (amplexicaul,) half heart-shaped (sub-cordate) at the base, from 2-6 inches long, opposite or in 
rings (whorls) of 3 or 4. The length of the stamens and styles differs in different plants all growing 
together, the long stamens fertilising the long styles, the medium-lengthed stamens fertilising the 
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