Lythrum junceum, Banks & Solander

3. L. junceum Banks & Solander View in CoL in A. Russell, Nat. Hist. Aleppo ed. 2,2:253 (1794)

(L.^rae#m'Ten., L. acutangulum auct., non Lag., L. flexuosum auct., non Lag.).

Glabrous, usually perennial; stems usually branched from the base with decumbent, divaricate, straggling branches 20-70 cm. Leaves 8-22 x 2-11 mm, broadly elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong, mostly alternate. Flowers trimorphic, solitary in the leaf-axils, suberect. Hypanthium 5-6 mm, shorter than the subtending leaf, cylindrical- obconical, tapered gradually to the base, spotted with red near the base. Sepals broadly deltate, scarious; epicalyx-segments c. 1 mm, triangular-subulate, equalling or somewhat exceeding the sepals. Petals 5-6 mm, purple, sometimes white or cream at the base. Stamens 12, some or all exserted. Capsule much shorter than the hypanthium. Wet places. S.W. Europe and Mediterranean region. Al Az BI Co Cr Ga G r Hs It Lu Sa Si Tu.