656 MONOECIA MONADELPHIA. PhljUantJlUS. 



Root perennial. Stem scarcely any, when present erect, 

 woody, smooth. Branches numerous, erect, twiggy. Leaves 

 alternate, bifarious, sbort-petioled, wedge-formed, oblong, or 

 even obcordate, pointed, rounded, or emarginate, entire ; from 

 half an inch to an inch long, and about a quarter of an inch 

 broad. Stipules cordate, acute, membranaceous. Flowers 

 axillary, as in P. madraspatemis from which it differs only 

 in being shrubby ; whether soil and situation can make the 

 change is with me uncertain ; if it can, they are only varieties 

 of the same plant. 



4. P. ohcordatiis. R. 



Shrubby, erect. Leaves simple, alternate, sub-sessile, ob- 

 cordate cuneate. Flowers axillary, peduncled, one female, 

 and two or more male ; with a six-leaved calyx. Filament 

 single. Anthers six. 



A native of Bengal. Flowering time the close of the rains, 

 and cold season. 



Trunk straight, suffruticose. Branches ascending. Bark 

 of the woody parts, deep brown, of the tender shoots smooth, 

 oreen, heisiht of the whole i>lant about three feet. Leaves 

 simple, alternate, sub-sessile, obcordate, cuneate, smooth on 

 both sides, about half an inch long, and considerably less in 

 breadth. Stipules semi-cordate, membranaceous. Flowers 

 axillary, uniformly one female and several male, all are 

 short-peduncled, and drooping'. Calyx six-leaved, or six- 

 cleft to the base, alternately smaller, expanding, green, per- 

 manent. JVectary, none in the female. In the male six mi- 

 nute olands in the fissures of the calyx. Stamina, uone in 

 the female. In the male, the filament is single, and short. 

 Anthers three pair, round the top of the filament. Pistillum 

 no rudiment of any in the male. In the female it is round. 

 Styles three, short, spreading with stigmas, slightly two- 

 toothed. Capsules round, three-celled, three-valved, of the 

 size of a grain of black pepper, smooth. Seeds, two in each 

 cell. 



