Lythraceae

Lythrum L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 446 (1753)

This genus is accepted

The native range of this genus is Temp. Northern Hemisphere to Subtropical America.

Lythraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit: Perennial or annual herbs, rarely subshrubby
Morphology Leaves: Leaves decussate, verticillate or alternate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Flowers 4–6(–8)-merous, regular or obscurely irregular, often di- or trimorphic, axillary, solitary or in cymes, sometimes congested into raceme-like “terminal” inflorescences
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx: Calyx tubular or ± campanulate, the sinus-appendages obvious or ± obsolete
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla: Petals mostly conspicuous, rarely lacking
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens: Stamens (1–)4–12, inserted near base of tube, some or all exserted, the ventrals and dorsals often inserted at different heights
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil: Ovary ± sessile, oblong or ovoid, incompletely bilocular; ovules numerous; style usually well developed, rarely almost lacking; stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Capsule 2-valved; valves sometimes ± bilobed, membranous to ± coriaceous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds 8 to numerous.

[FTEA]

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit: Herbs, annual or perennial rarely shrubby; young branches 4-angled
Morphology Leaves: Leaves, opposite and decussate, verticillate or alternate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Flowers solitary in axils, or in cymes or terminal spikes, 6-merous, [mono-, di-, or] trimorphic in relation of filament to style length. Calyx tube (hypanthium) elongate, 6–12 angled or -veined; sepals 4–6; epicalyx present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla: Petals 4–6 (or absent)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens: Stamens 4–12 (12 or fewer in Iraq plants), in 2 whorls of different lengths, inserted near the base of the tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary: Ovary oblong, ± 2-locular; ovules many
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Capsule 2-valved, fusiform, included
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds 8–many, elongate.
Distribution: About 35 species, cosmopolitan in distribution; four species found in Iraq.
Note: Lythrum (from the Gr. λύϑρον, luthron, loosening or atonement).

[FIQ]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit: Herbs, rarely ± shrubby
Morphology Leaves: Leaves sometimes whorled or alternate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Flowers axillary, in cymes or solitary, sometimes congested into raceme-like terminal inflorescences, 4–6(–8)-merous, occasionally obscurely zygomorphic, often heterostylous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium: Hypanthium campanulate or cylindrical; sinus-horns present or not
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla: Petals usually large, rarely absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens: Stamens (1–)4–12
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary: Ovary incompletely 2-celled, ovules numerous, style usually well developed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Capsule 2-valved, often 2-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds 8–many, small.
Distribution: A subcosmopolitan genus of about 40 species.

[FSOM]

Flora of Iraq
- Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. (Eds). (2013-2019). Flora of Iraq, Volumes 5.1, 5.2 and 6.0. Kew Publishing
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Flora of Somalia
- Flora of Somalia
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
- 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
Kew Backbone Distributions
- The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
- © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
- The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
- © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Descriptions