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Genus Lythrum L.
Род 515 (4). БЛАТИЯ - LYTHRUM L.
L., Sp. Pl. ed. 1 (1753) 476; Gen. Pl. ed. 5 (1754) 205
Fam: Lythraceae J. St. Hill.
Genus: Lythrum L.
English Name: Loosestrife

Description:

Annual or perennial herbaceous plants with erect or raised stems. Leaves simple, entire, sessile, sat down, opposite or 3 in vertebrae. The flowers are accurate, bisexual, located 1 - 2 in the axils of the middle and upper leaves or 2 - 4 (more) in dichases in the axils of the upper leaves, and the dichases in turn collected in upper wheatear-like or wheatear-like bosom-like inflorescences ( when branching the stem). Hypanthus tubular or tubular-bell-shaped, 3 or more times longer than wide, preserved in the fetus. Sepals 4 - 6, triangular teeth, alternating with 4 - 6 narrower, usually lance linear, awl-shaped pointed appendage (subpapilla). Petals 4 - 6, longer than the calyx; stamens 2 - 12, captured in the tube of the hypanthium. Upper ovary, usually oblong-ovate, glabrous, with a flat, longer or shorter style and a globular stigma, it’s saving in the fetus. The box is cylindrical or oblong-ovate, two-celled, many-seeded, naked, cracking at the top of two halves, each often with 2 - 3 teeth. Seeds small, usually angularly ovoid.

Table for determination of the species

1    Annual plants. Flowers located 1 - 2 in the axils of the middle and upper leaves; petals 1.5 - 3 times shorter than hypanthia;
stamens 4 - 6 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1* Perennials. The flowers are collected in dichases in the axils of the upper significantly smaller leaves - all together form spike-
shaped or spike-shaped paniculate inflorescences; petals 1.5 - 2 times longer than hypanthia; stamens 12 ................................ 3
2   The appendages of the calyx are triangular-lance, 2 - 4 times longer than the sepals. The lower leaves are oblong-elliptic or
elliptically lance ………....................................................................................................…………… 2. - L. hyssopifolia L.
2* The appendages of the calyx are narrowly triangular, equal to the sepals. Lower leaves back lance-spatulate or oblong-spatulate ……......................................................................................................…………… 1. - L. tribracteatum Salzm. ex Spreng.
3 Bare plants. The lower leaves at the base narrowed, rarely rounded. The sepals and appendages are almost equally long .................................................................................................................................................................... 3. - L. virgatum L.
3* Fibrous plants. The lower leaves are rounded at the base, heart-shaped incised. Sepals 2 - 4 times shorter than appendages ……………………................................................................................................……………………… 4. - L. salicaria L.
From:   „Флора на Н Р България”, том VII, Изд. на Б А Н, София, (1979)

Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Distribution:

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Lythrum is a genus of 38 species of flowering plants native to the temperate world. Commonly known as loosestrife (a name they share with Lysimachia, which are not closely related), they are among 32 genera of the family Lythraceae.[3]

Description

They are herbaceous annuals or perennials. Typically they have square stems, narrow stalkless leaves, and spikes of star-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink and white. They are especially associated with boggy areas, river banks and ponds, though in cultivation they often tolerate drier conditions. The species L. salicaria (purple loosestrife) and L. virgatum are found in cultivation.[3]

Morphology

Some species of Lythrum are heterostylous, such as the tristylous (occurring in three forms) L. salicaria.[8]

Ecology

Lythrum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the small emperor moth, the engrailed, the Hebrew character, and the V-pug.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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References: „Флора на Н Р България”, том VII, Изд. на Б А Н, София, (1979), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SPECIES:

Lythrum salicaria L. - Purple loosestrife

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