Editing Lythraceae (section)

==Characteristics==
Lythraceae species are most often herbs, and less often shrubs or trees; the shrubs and trees often have flaky bark.<ref name="Mabberley 2008">{{cite book|author-link=David Mabberley |last=Mabberley |first=David J. |title=Mabberley's Plant Book: A portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses |edition=3rd |year=2008 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-82071-4 |page=508 }}</ref> Traits shared by species within the Lythraceae that distinguish them from belonging to other plant families are the petals being crumpled in the bud and the many-layered outer integument of the seed.<ref name="Judd 2008" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mahmoodi |first1=Rana |last2=Faghir |first2=Marzieh Beygom |last3=Parsapanah |first3=Soheyla |date=2022-08-03 |title=Palynological study of the family J.St.-Hil. in Iran; with special emphasis on the genera <i>Ammannia</i>, <i>Lythrum</i>, and <i>Rotala</i> |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fedr.202100052 |journal=Feddes Repertorium |volume=133 |issue=4 |pages=289–304 |doi=10.1002/fedr.202100052 |issn=0014-8962|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=2022-01-07 |title=Lawsonia (Lythraceae) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.47159598 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=CABI Compendium|doi=10.1079/cabicompendium.47159598 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Leaves===
The leaves generally have an [[Leaf#Arrangement on the stem|opposite]] arrangement, but sometimes are [[Leaf#Arrangement on the stem|whorled]] or [[Leaf#Arrangement on the stem|alternate]]. They are [[Leaf#Divisions of the blade|simple]] with smooth margins and [[pinnate]] venation.<ref name="Judd 2008"/> Stipules are typically reduced, appearing as a row of minute hairs,<ref name="Judd 2008"/> or absent.<ref name="Mabberley 2008"/>

===Flowers===
The flowers are bisexual, [[Floral symmetry#Actinomorphic|radially]] or occasionally [[Floral symmetry#Zygomorphic|bilaterally]] symmetric, with a well-developed [[hypanthium]]. The flowers are most commonly [[merosity|quadimerous]] but can be heximerous, with four to eight sepals and petals. The sepals may be distinct, partially fused to form a tube, or touching without overlapping. The petals are crumpled in the bud and wrinkled at maturity, and are typically distinct and overlapping; they are occasionally absent.<ref name="Judd 2008"/> Usually, twice as many stamens as petals are seen, arranged in two whorls, and the stamens are often unequal in length. Occasionally, the stamens are reduced to one whorl, or are more numerous with multiple whorls.<ref name="Stevens 2001"/> The ovary is typically [[Ovary (plants)#Superior ovary|superior]], infrequently [[Ovary (plants)#Half-inferior ovary|semi-inferior]],<ref name="Graham and Cavalcanti">{{cite web |url=http://www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/neotropikey/families/Lythraceae.htm|title=Neotropical Lythraceae |last1=Graham |first1=Shirley |last2=Cavalcanti |first2=Taciana B. |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=28 March 2011}}</ref> or rarely [[Ovary (plants)#Inferior ovary|inferior]]. The two to many carpels can be fused together ([[Gynoecium#Types of gynoecia|syncarpous]]), with two to numerous ovules in each [[locule]], with axile placentation of the ovules.<ref name="Judd 2008" />

[[Heterostyly]] – the presence of two (distylous) or three (tristylous) distinct flower morphs within a species differing in the lengths of the pistil and stamens – is common within the Lythraceae.<ref name="Judd 2008" />

===Fruits and seeds===
The fruit is usually a dry, [[Dehiscence (botany)|dehiscent]] capsule, occasionally a [[berry]]. The seeds are usually flattened and/or winged, with a multilayered outer [[Integument#Botanical usage|integument]].<ref name="Judd 2008" /> [[Epidermis (botany)|Epidermal]] hairs that expand and become mucilaginous when wet are found in about half the genera.<ref name="Stevens 2001" />