Lythraceae

Lawsonia L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 349 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is NE. Tropical Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan to India.

Descriptions

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
A glabrous shrub or small tree, the 4-angled branchlets sometimes with a spine-like tip; leaves rather small, opposite, with short petioles; stipules minute, conical, whitish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers small, 4-parted, fragrant, in terminal panicles; calyx broadly top-shaped, with lobes slightly longer than the tube, lacking accessory teeth; petals short-clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 8, the filaments thick, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile, 2–4-locular, with a stout style
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule globose, indehiscent or rupturing irregularly; seeds thick, trigonous-pyramidal, spongy at the apex.
Note
The genus consists of a single species.
[Cayman]

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrub or small tree; all parts glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a dense terminal panicle Flowers 4-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium shorter than sepals, sinus-horns absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4 or 4 pairs (rarely 9–12), opposite sepals, all equal, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile, subglobose, 2–4-celled; style persistent, longer than stamens, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit depressed-globose, indehiscent or breaking up irregularly
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, subtetrahedral (4-sided).
Distribution
A single species only, throughout the Old World tropics, widely grown as a dye-plant; introduced to the New World tropics.
[FSOM]

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrub or small tree
Morphology Leaves
Leaves decussate, subsessile, entire; stipules minute, conic
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers regular, 4-merous, in terminal pyramidal panicles, the pedicels with basal or median very deciduous bracteoles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx broadly turbinate, subcoriaceous; lobes ovate without any intermediary appendages
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals broadly reniform, very shortly clawed, cordate at the base, very crumpled in bud
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, 8 or rarely 9–12; filaments ± thick, subulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary sessile, subglobose, 2–4-locular; style ± thick, slightly overtopping the stamens
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit globose, indehiscent or breaking irregularly, the fruiting calyx flattened
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, tetragonal; cotyledons flat.
[FTEA]

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Shrub or small tree.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves decussate, elliptic to oblanceolate, entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 4-merous, bisexual, in lax leafy terminal panicles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx turbinate with the tube short; lobes spreading and broadly ovate; appendages absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals broadly ovate, cordate at base, very much corrugated in bud.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens exserted, 4 opposite to the sepals or often 8 in pairs also opposite to the sepals or rarely 9–12 temate; filaments filiform-subulate; anthers broadly oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary sessile, subglobose, 2–4-locular; style thick, continuous with placentas, persistent, a little longer than the stamens; stigma capitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit globose, indehiscent or disrupting irregularly.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, thick, 4-sided; cotyledons flat.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • 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 2025. 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 2025. 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