Lythrum borysthenicum, (Schrank) Litv.

11. L. borysthenicum (Schrank) Litv. View in CoL in Majevski, FI. Sred. Ross. ed. 5, 209 (1917)

( Peplis erecta Req. ex Moris , P. boraei (Guépin) Jordan , Middendorfia borysthenica (Schrank) Trautv. ).

Annual, usually more or less scabrid-hispid, at least above; stem 3-10(-18)cm, usually erect, but sometimes creeping and rooting for a short distance at the base. Leaves 5-20 x 2—8(—13) mm, alternate or opposite, oblong-oblanceolate to broadly obovate, sessile. Flowers (5-)6-merous, solitary (rarely in pairs) in the leaf-axils, sessile; bracteoles c. 1-5 mm, filiform. Hypanthium 2-3 mm in flower (up to 4 mm in fruit), narrowly to very broadly campanulate, 0-8—1-7 times as long as wide, often vinous red. Epicalyx-segments subulate, equalling or exceeding the deflate sepals. Petals minute, fugacious, purplish, often absent; stamens (5-)6, included. Capsule globular to shortly cylindrical or ovoid-conical, shorter than the hypanthium. 2n = 30. Seasonally wet places. S. Europe, extending northwards locally to N.W. France and S.C. Russia, but very rare in the Balkan peninsula. Co Cr Ga G r Hs It Lu Rs (C, W, E) Sa Tu. Very variable, especially in arrangement of leaves, degree of scabridity, and shape of hypanthium.