THE INDIAN SPECIES OF ERIOCAULON. 195 



In the table opposite giving the scheme of probable relationship the re- 

 duction of one female sepal is shown to have occurred four times and the total 

 loss of a sepal three times. The most involved relationships are shown in 

 the group near the bottom of the diagram. It will be seen that E. Dianae is 

 through its varieties connected apparently both with E. quiqu angular e and 

 with E. trilobum. The three species form in fact a closed ring, and the first 

 two with their varieties form a second ring. JIow this can have come about 

 through descent, I do not propose to discuss here ; the facts however are that 

 the speoies or varieties shown connected by dotted lines are almost or quite 

 indistinguishable except by the character of the one linear sepal, and those 

 shown connected by firm lines are clearly related. 



E. xeranthemum and E. truncatum with the female sepals 2 or 3, and 

 E. collinum with them equal or unequal, contain within themselves the 

 reduction of one sepal. 



Key to the Simplices. 



(a) Eeceptacle glabrous. 



* Female sepals 3. 



1 Female petals broadly oblanceolate or spathulate with large 

 black glands. 

 Scapes 10-15 in ; heads 1/2 in ; female petals 



visible beyond the bracts (Burma) ... 4 E. Collettii. 

 Scapes 1/2-2 in ; solitary or clustered ; 



heads 1/3 in. (S. Indian Hills) ... 3 E. Geoffreyi. 



Scapes 4-5 in., heads 1/4 in. stems branched 



densely tufted ; leaves 2-3 in., linear, 



(Shillong) ... 5 E. barba-caprae. 



Scapes 2-3 in., tufted ; leaves 1-1/2 in., linear ; 



heads 1/6 in. (Khasia) ... 6 E. gregatum. 



t 1 Female petals narrow, with small or no glands ; or absent. 

 Scapes 4-6 in.; heads" 1/6-1/4 in., globose ... 7 E. nepalense. 

 Scapes 1-2 in. ; heads 1/8 in., do. ... 8 E. Pumilio. 



Scapes 1-1/2-2 in. ; leaves 1/3-1-1/4 in., heads 



1/6 in. truncate at base (Ceylon) ... 9 E. Trimeni. 

 Involucral bracts twice as long as the head. 12 E. xeranthemum. 



* * Female sepals 2, rarely 3. 

 Scapes 2-4 in. ; heads 1/4 in. ; truncate by the 



very horizontal involucre (Assam to 

 Malacca and to Ceylon) ... 10 E. truncatum. 



Scapes 4-6 in. ; heads 1/6 in. ; bracts reflexed 



(Central Provinces) ... 11 E. Duthiei. 



(b) Receptacle villous. 



* Female sepals 3 all equally boat-shaped or flat, 

 i Ls. red or drying red. 



