Lythrum

Prostrate to erect, annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, glabrous or pubescent; stems and branches rounded, angular or ribbed. Leaves alternate, opposite, or in whorls of 3, sessile or subsessile; stipules absent. Inflorescence axillary, with flowers solitary or consisting of few-flowered dichasia or clusters. Flowers actinomorphic, subsessile to shortly pedicellate; hypanthium tubular, ribbed; appendages present, elongate; sepals 4–6, shorter than hypanthium; petals 4–6, obscure to showy; stamens as many as or twice as many as sepals; ovary 2-celled. Fruit usually a cartilaginous, septicidal capsule, enclosed in persistent hypanthium; seeds minute, numerous.