LYTHRUM, in botany, a genus of the dodecandria monogynia class. The calix consists of twelve segments, and the corolla of six petals inserted into the calix; and the capsule has two cells, and many seeds. There are ten species, two of them natives of Britain, viz. the salicaria, or purple spiked loose-strife; and the hyssopifolia, or small hedge-hyssop.
End of the article CATASTROPHE. For See EPIC and DRAMATIC compositions, read, See COMPOSITION.