12 CoinpOSltcP. \Adenostemma. 



supported on three large bracts, inv.-bracts iow in two rows, 

 fl. few (usually 4) in a head, tubular, bisexual ; cor. deeply 

 5-lobed ; anth, cells obtuse at base ; style-arms short, subulate; 

 achene very small, compressed, finely lo-ribbed, pappus of 

 few hairs dilated at base. — Sp. about 12; i in F/. B. Ind. 



E. scaber, L. Sp. PI. 814 (1753). Et-adi, S. Anichovadi, T. 



Moon Cat. 59. Thw. Enum. 161. C. P. 1772. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iii. 242. Wight, Ic. t. 1086 (not good). 



Biennial or perennial, with a short vertical rootstock giving 

 off many stout fibrous roots ; 1, mostly radical, forming a 

 spreading rosette on the ground, 4-5 in., oblong-lanceolate, 

 attenuate to base, acute at apex, undulate, shallowly crenate- 

 serrate, rough with coarse hairs on both sides, ciliate on 

 margin, veins very prominent beneath, petiole short, very 

 broad, sheathing; flowering stem 6-18 in., stout, rigid, tough, 

 scabrous with minute prickles and with adpressed white hair, 

 dichotomously branched above, with a small amplexicaul 

 acute leaf at each bifurcation, heads very numerous, sessile, 

 closely packed, forming a large flat-topped terminal inflor. 

 nearly i in. wide, and surrounded at base with 3 large, stiff, 

 broadly ovate, conduplicate, leafy bracts, inv.-bracts 8, in two 

 rows, linear, acuminate, the outer ones half as long as the 

 inner and scarious, fl. exserted; cor.-tube long, very slender, 

 lobes widely spreading; style very much exserted, tapering, 

 pubescent, arms recurved ; achene truncate, nearly glabrous. 



Open ground up to 7000 ft.; very common. Fl. Feb., March; bright 

 pale violet. 



Throughout Tropical Asia, Australia, and America. 



One of the commonest weeds in turf, and, owing to its long roots, 

 difficult to eradicate. The leaves are used as an external application. 

 Uwarf specimens from Horton Plains have but one head of inllorescence 

 on a short simple scape I0-3 in. high. 



3. ADENOSTEXUBIA, Forst. 



Annual, 1. opp., simple; heads moderate-sized, few, on long 

 peduncles, inv.-bracts numerous, equal, in two rows, connate 

 at base, receptacle flat, very slightly pitted, fl. numerous, 

 bisexual, all tubular; anth. obtuse at both ends; style-arms 

 very large and long, clavate ; achene compressed, truncate, 

 pappus of 5 (or less) spreading, clavate, viscous-glandular 

 processes. — Sp. 5 or 6; i in /7. /). Ind. 



