TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

LYTHRACEAE

LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY

Elizabeth McClintock

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs, trees
Stem angled or cylindric
Leaves simple, entire, generally opposite, sometimes alternate or whorled
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, or panicle, terminal, or axillary clusters with 1–several flowers
Flower bisexual, generally radial; hypanthium cylindric to bell-shaped, generally membranous, persistent in fruit; sepals 4–6, generally persistent, appendages 3–5 or 0, alternate sepals; petals, stamens inserted on inner hypanthium; petals 4–6 or 0, alternate sepals, deciduous; stamens generally = or 2 X petals, included or exserted; ovary superior, chambers 2–6, style generally slender, stigma head-like
Fruit: capsule, opening by valves from top, splitting sometimes irregular or 0
Seeds 3–many
Genera in family: ± 25 genera, 450 species: temp, tropical, generally in wet habitats. Some ornamental or cultivated for medicine, dyes
Reference: [Graham 1964 J Arnold Arbor 45:235–250]

LYTHRUM

Annual, perennial herb
Stem prostrate to erect, sometimes 4-angled
Leaves opposite, alternate, or whorled, linear to ovate, sessile or short-petioled
Inflorescence: raceme- or spike-like; flowers generally 1–2 per axil; bracts 2 per node
Flower radial to slightly bilateral, sometimes of 2–3 forms (heterostyly); hypanthium cylindric to bell-shaped; sepals 4–6, appendages < to > sepals; petals 4–6 or 0; stamens 4–6 or 12, included or exserted; styles < to > stamens
Fruit generally cylindric, generally dehiscent by 2 valves
Seeds many, < 1 mm
Species in genus: ± 35 species: temp
Etymology: (Greek: blood, from flower color)
Reference: [Stuckey 1980 Bartonia 47:3–20]

Introduced

L. hyssopifolia L.

Annual, biennial, not heterostylous
Stem 1–6 dm, branching; lower branches prostrate to erect, generally glabrous
Leaves: lowermost opposite, upper generally alternate, 5–30 mm, oblong to elliptic
Inflorescence: spike, terminal; bracts linear; flowers sessile
Flower: hypanthium 4–6 mm, cylindric; sepals deltate, < appendages; appendages ± 1 mm, awl-like; petals 2–5 mm, pink to rose; stamens 4–6, included; style ± exserted
Fruit ovoid, ± = hypanthium
Ecology: Marshes, drying pond margins
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to e US; native to Europe

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for LYTHRUM%20hyssopifolia being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Lythrum hyssopifolia
Retrieve dichotomous key for Lythrum
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California