1. A. coccínea, Rottb. Leaves linear-lanceolate (2–3´ long), with a broad auricled sessile base; cymes subsessile, dense; petals purplish; stamens more or less exserted; style usually slender; capsule included. (A. latifolia, Gray, Manual, not L.)—N. J. to Fla., west to S. Ind., Kan., and Tex. The style varies much in length, sometimes in the same specimen. Apparently the more developed form of the southern A. latifolium, L., which, as limited by Koehne, has apetalous flowers, with included stamens and short style.
4. LÝTHRUM, L. Loosestrife.
Calyx cylindrical, striate, 5–7-toothed, with as many little processes in the sinuses. Petals 5–7. Stamens as many as the petals or twice the number, inserted low down on the calyx, commonly nearly equal. Capsule oblong, 2-celled.—Slender herbs, with opposite or scattered mostly sessile leaves, and purple (rarely white) flowers; produced in summer. (Name from λύθρον, blood; perhaps from the styptic properties of some species.)
[*] Stamens and petals 5–7; flowers small, solitary and nearly sessile in the axils of the mostly scattered upper leaves; proper calyx-teeth often shorter than the intermediate processes; plants smooth.
1. L. Hyssopifòlia, L. Low annual (6–10´ high), pale; leaves oblong-linear, obtuse, longer than the inconspicuous flowers; petals pale-purple; stamens usually 4–6, included.—Marshes, near the coast, Maine to N. J. (Eu.)
2. L. lineàre, L. Stem slender and tall (3–4° high), bushy at top, with 2 margined angles; leaves linear, chiefly opposite; petals whitish; flowers with 6 included stamens and a short style, or the stamens exserted and style short; ovary on a thick short stalk; no fleshy hypogynous ring.—Brackish marshes, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.
3. L. alàtum, Pursh. Tall and wand-like perennial; branches with margined angles; leaves oblong-ovate to linear-lanceolate, acute, with a cordate or rounded base, the upper mostly alternate; calyx 2–4´´ long; petals rather large, deep-purple; stamens of the short-styled flowers exserted; fleshy hypogynous ring prominent.—Ont. to Minn., south to Ga., Ark., and Col.; also near Boston.
[*][*] Stamens 12 (rarely 8 or 10), twice the number of the petals, 6 longer and 6 shorter; flowers large, crowded and whorled in an interrupted spike.
L. Salicària, L. (Spiked Loosestrife.) More or less downy and tall; leaves lanceolate, heart-shaped at base, sometimes whorled in threes; flowers purple, trimorphous in the relative lengths of the stamens and style.—Wet meadows, N. Scotia to Del. (Nat. from Eu.)