Contains 7 genera and 16 accepted taxa overall.
This family is completely databased for all specimens.
Characteristics
LYTHRACEAE
Dicot
-
Classification
MYRTALES
LYTHRACEAE
Identification Key
1. Shrub or tree with a definite trunk, usually >2 m tall when mature; petals 14-18 mm long; fruit woody, 9-15 mm long
1. Herbs or shrubs without a trunk or trunk weakly formed, usually <3 m tall when mature; petals to 15 mm long or absent; fruit not woody, <8 mm long
2
2. Leaves petiolate, the petiole 3-10 mm long; leaf blades 3-20 cm long; pedicels 5-13 mm long; flowers usually 6 or more per node; petals 8-15 mm long
2. Leaves sessile or the petiole 3 mm long or less; leaf blades 0.5-10 cm long; pedicels usually 5 mm long or less, or to 15 mm long (in Cuphea aspera); flowers usually 10 or less per node; petals to 7 mm long or absent
3
3. Hypanthium asymmetrical at the base (enlarged and spurred on one side)
3. Hypanthium symmetrical at the base
4
4. Hypanthium and fruit cylindrical or oblong
4. Hypanthium and fruit campanulate to globose
5
5. Inflorescence terminal and bracteate
5. Flowers in the axils of typical leaves
6
6. Flowers or fruits 2 or more per leaf axil, 4 or more per node
6. Flowers or fruits solitary in the leaf axil, 1-2 per node
7
7. Petals absent; fruit indehiscent
7. Petals present or absent; fruit dehiscent