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Lythraceae (from the genus Lythrum, derived from the Greek meaning blood, in reference to the purple flowers). Loosestrife Family. Fig. 42. Herbs, shrubs, or trees: leaves usually opposite or whorled: flowers bisexual, usually regular, perigynous; receptacle (“calyx-tube”) tubular, ribbed, free from the ovary, bearing the 4 or 8 valvate sepals on its margin; petals of the same number as the sepals, or 0, and inserted with them, imbricated; stamens usually twice as many as the petals, rarely more (up to 200), or fewer (to 1); outer set alternate with the petals, and inserted some distance below them; ovary superior, 2-6-celled, many-ovuled: fruit a capsule, rarely indehiscent.
There are 22 genera and about 450 species known; generally distributed, but more abundant in the tropics, especially in America. The largest genus is Cuphea with about 160 species. The family is closely related to the Onagraceae, but differs in the superior ovary; it is also related to the Melastomaceae, but the stamens are normal.
Lythrum Salicaria has been used as an astringent: Heimia and Cuphea have been used as purgatives and emetics. Lawsonia inermis of Egypt is the famous henna, the perfume of the flower of which is renowned throughout the East; with an orange-red dye obtained from the leaves of this plant, women of the orient dye hair and nails. Pemphis acidula is used as a pot-herb in Asia. The flowers of Woodfordia floribunda yield the red dye of India called dhak. Lagerstroemia furnishes very valuable timber.
In cultivation in N. America are several genera: Cuphea, species of garden annuals; Decodon (Swamp Loosestrife), native, but used for water-gardens; Lythrum (Loosestrife); Lawsonia (Henna), cultivated in southern Florida and southern California; Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle) cultivated in the South.
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