136 FLOKA OF JAMAICA Achyranthcs 



spinescent. Perianth-segments 5, shortly spinescent, at length 

 hardened and ribbed. Stamens 5, connate at the base with 

 lamellate staminodes broader above, fringed on the back below 

 the apex ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary with a slender style and 

 terminal stigma ; ovule 1, at apex of a long basal stalk. Utricle 

 indehiscent, oblong or ovoid ; embryo surrounding the endo- 

 sperm : cotyledons linear-lanceolate, flat, infolded at apex. 

 Species 12, natives of warm and tropical regions. 



Leaves obovate-romidish 1. A. indica. 



Leaves lanceolate or elliptical, attenuated at both ends, 



acuminate 2. A. aspera. 



1. A. indiea 31ill Diet. (1768) & Ic. t. 11, /. 2; leaves 

 obovate-roundish, base abruptly narrowing, apex rounded, apicu 

 late, pubescent. A. aspera L. var. indica L. Sp. PI. 204 (1753) 

 A. obtusifolia Lam. Encyc. i. 545 (1785); TJrh. Syriib. Ant. iv 

 219. A. aspera Moq. in DC. Prodr. xiii. pt. 2, 314 (1849) 

 Wight Ic. t. 1777. A. aspera L. var. obtusifolia Griseh. Fl 

 Br. W. Ind. 62 (1859), Amaranthus spicatus dictamni &c 

 PluJc. Aim. 26, t. 10, f. 4. Type in Herb. Mus. Brit. (Herm 

 Fl. Zeyl.). (Fig. 43.) ' 



Wilson \ Kingston, Priori Ginger Piece, Blue Mts., J.P. 1420, Hart \ 

 near Kingston, Campbell ! Hope, 700 ft., Harris ! Fl. Jam. 6484, 6869. 

 West Indies, warmer regions of the world. 



A weed, to 1 m, high. Leaves 3-7'5 cm. 1., 2-7 cm. br. Spike to 

 3 dm. 1., woolly. Bract 3 mm. 1, Perianth 4 mm. 1. Stamens 1 mm. 1. ; 

 staminodes -5 mm. 1. Ovary '5 mm. 1. ; style 1 mm. 1. 



2. A. aspera L. Sp. PI. 204 (1753); leaves lanceolate or 

 elliptical, narrowing at both ends, acuminate, on upper surface 

 pubescent, beneath sericeous. TJrh. torn. cit. 220. A. caule 

 geniculato &c. Browne Hist. Jam. 180. A. argentea Lam. 

 Encyc. i. 545 (1785); 3Ioq. op. cit. 315 (with var. virgata). 

 A. aspera L. var. argentea Griseh. loc. cit. Type in Herb. Linn. 



" Crescence," Broiune ; Broughton ! Shakspear ! Key West, Cuba, 

 Hispaniola, Porto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Vincent, Nicaragua, 

 Africa, S. Europe, tropical Asia to Japan. 



Leaves 4-9 cm. 1., l-5-3'5 cm. br. Bract about 4 mm. 1., limb about 

 1-5 mm. 1. Perianth 6 mm. 1. Stamens 2*5 mm. 1., staminodes 1-5 mm. 1. 

 Ovary about 1 mm. 1., style about 1 mm. 1. 



7. FRCELICHIA Moench. 



Herbs. Leaves opj)osite. Flowers hermaphrodite, in spikes, 

 enclosed by membranous bracts. Perianth woolly, tubular, 

 5-lobed, tube becoming hard and crested in the fruit. Stamens 

 united into a tube divided at the apex into 5 lobes ; anthers 



