Elephantflpits.] CoiflpOsitCB. 1 1 



leaf-scars ; 1. numerous, closely placed, often overlapping, 

 ii-4in., oval, acute or tapering to base, acute at apex, closely 

 pectinate-serrate at margin, which is usually closely reflexed, 

 so that the 1. looks entire from above, glabrous or more or 

 less floccose on both sides, veins prominent beneath, petiole 

 short, obscure ; heads rather large, numerous, stalked, in 

 dense corymbose cymes, involucre shallow, bracts few, oval- 

 oblong, rounded, glabrous, fl. about 12; achene faintly ribbed, 

 glabrous, pappus coppery-red, sub-deciduous, outer row \ 

 length of rest. 



Upper montane zone ; rather rare. Nuwara Eliya ; Adam's Peak ; 

 Pedurutalagala ; Ambagamuwa. Fl. March, April ; violet. 

 Also in the Nilgiris. 

 A very distinct species. 



13. V. arborea, Ham. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv. 218 (1824). 

 Kobomella, 5. 



V. javanica, DC, Thw. Enum. 160. Clarke, Comp. Ind. 23. C. P. 

 1742. 



Fl. B. Ind. iii. 239. 



A moderate-sized tree, twigs densely covered with fine 

 white or yellowish wool, 1. 4-6 in., lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acute or rounded at base, acuminate, acute, entire, 

 glabrous above, finely but densely felted beneath with grey 

 or yellowish tomentum, petiole \-^ in. ; heads rather small, 

 very shortly stalked, numerous, in large paniculate cymes, 

 involucre cup-shaped, bracts few, oval or oblong-oval, obtuse, 

 densely woolly, fl. few (6-12), much exserted but not spread- 

 ing; achene compressed, 3- or 4-angled, glabrous, pale yellow, 

 pappus yellowish-white, all the rows equal in length. 



Moist region up to 5000 ft.; rather common. Fl. Aug., September; 

 pale violet or white. 



Also in India and Malaya. 



If V. javanica be kept separate from V. arborea, our plant belongs to 

 the former, but they are combined in Fl. B. Ind. The tree of the Nilgiris 

 is there distinguished as var. WigJitiana; it is Monosis IVightiana, DC, 

 and Ver?ionia Monosis, Clarke, and is figured in Wight, Ic. t. 1085 (Spic. 

 Neilgh. t. 105) and Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 226. 



This is the only Composita in Ceylon that attains the dimensions of a 

 tree. Wood soft, of no value. 



2. EZiEPHANTOPUS,^ L. 



Perennial herb, 1. mostly radical, simple, heads small, very 

 numerous, closely packed in flat-topped compound heads 



* Linnaeus thus translated the Tamil name (as given in Rheede); 

 the Sinhalese has the same meaning, Elephant's footprint. 



