Lythraceae |
| 30 genera, 8 with aquatic species. Annual,
perennial or shrubby. Stems often inflated when submerged
or floating. Leaves whorled, opposite or sometimes
alternate, simple, entire, without stipules.
Inflorescence simple or complex, usually based on
repeated axillary cymes. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic
or zogomorphic, sometimes heteromorphic, sometime
cleistogamous. Sepals 4-6 (-7), united into a tube, the
lobes valvate, often with appendages between the lobes.
Petals 4-6 (-7) or absent, caducous, often crumpled in
bud. Stamens as many or wice as many as the sepal lobes,
rarely more or less. Ovary superior, free from the sepal
tube, (1) 2- to 6-locular; septae separating the locules
often incomplete; placentation axile or free-central;
fruit a capsule. |
