Lythraceae
Mostly herbs, less commonly shrubs or trees. Lvs usually opposite or whorled, rarely alternate; stipules minute or 0. Fls solitary, in racemes, cymes or panicles, ⚥, often heterostylous, usually actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic; pedicels usually with 2 bracts. Calyx usually 4-6-merous, tubular; lobes valvate and often with appendages between (epicalyx). Corolla usually 4-6-merous, rarely 0, crumpled in bud, inserted towards top of calyx tube. Stamens usually twice as many as petals and inserted below them, sometimes more or numerous. Ovary superior, sessile or short-stalked, (1)-2-6-celled; style simple; stigma usually capitate. Ovules usually numerous on axile placentae; placentae sometimes not meeting top of ovary. Fr. a capsule, sometimes indehiscent. Seed numerous, non-endospermic.
c. 25 genera, 550 spp., widely distributed, except in very cold regions.
In addition to the genera below, 1 sp. of Lagerstroemia L. is commonly cultivated in warmer parts of the North Id. This is L. indica L., cr/ecar/pe myrtle, a large shrub with smooth brown bark and pink or purple, very crumpled fls with numerous stamens.
