Dioacorca. dioecia hexandria. 801 



7. Ti.fascicnlala. R. 



Tubers pciululous. Stems annual, twining, round ; prickles 

 sti[)uli>iy. Leaves alternate, round, cordate, five-nerved. 

 Beiiff. Soosni-aloo. 



This species is cultivated to a considerable extent, in the 

 vicinity of Calcutta, not only for food, but to make starch 

 of the roots. 



Hoot consists of many tubers, about the size and shape of 

 a pullet's egg, connected by slender filaments lo the base o( 

 ihe stems, covered with a pretty smooth, light coloured, thiu 

 integument; internally they are white. Stems several, about 

 as thick as a pack-thread, twining round, smooth, except 

 here and there a small prickle, and always two at the in- 

 sertion of each leaf; these I call the stipules. Leaves alter- 

 nate, long-petioled, round-cordate, entire, pointed, from three 

 seven-nerved, venose, slightly villous. 



I have not met with the flowers of either sex. The cul- 

 ture and use of the roots of the various species before and 

 hereafter mentioned, are subjects too well known, to require 

 any thing further from me in this place ; my aim is to assist 

 in clearing up the obscurity, in which the valuable plants 

 of this genus have hitherto been enveloped, not only with a 

 view to gratify the Botanist, but to point out marks by which 

 the species may be distinguished by those who are not Bo- 

 tanists. And the best will generally be found in the shape 

 and colour of the root. These are permanent, and by them 

 the Hindoo cultivator is guided; but, I fear, the criticising 

 Botanist may find fault with me for having disregarded the 

 Linnsean rule, which forbids placing confidence in colour. 

 In that case he must consider D. glohosa, rubella and pur- 

 purea, as varieties of the same species to which he has my 

 hearty consent, if he finds it a more convenient mode, than 

 that which I have followed. 



8. D. pulchella. H. 



Tubers roundish, and rather small. Stems herbaceous, 

 VOL. m. ~4W 



