Amarantus.'] AmarantacecF. 397 



handsome garden annuals, cultivated for their bright-coloured leaves, 

 A. tricolor, L., and A. melancholicus, L., are varieties of this species, 

 which even in the semi-wild state often has the leaves blotched with 

 purple. 



3. A. mangrostanus, L. Amam. Acad. iv. 294 (1759). 

 A. polygamus, Thw. Enum. 247 (non L.). C. P. 3642. 

 Fl. B. ind. iv. 720. Wight, Ic. t. 514 [^A. tristis). 



Stem usually procumbent, much branched, nearly glabrous; 

 I. small, \-i in., oval or rhomboid-oval, tapering to base, 

 obtuse, entire, glabrous, lat. -veins prominent beneath, petiole 

 nearly as long as 1.; fl. -clusters dense, all axillary, bracts 

 numerous, squarrose, lanceolate, awned ; per.-leaves 3, lanceo- 

 late, awned ; stam. 3 ; styles 3 ; seed ovoid. 



Waste and cultivated ground ; a common weed, especially in the dry 

 region. Fl. October-January ; green. 

 Throughout India. 

 Scarcely more than a stunted prostrate form cii A. gangeticus. 



4. A. viridis, L. Sp. PL ed. 2, ii. 1405 (1762). Kura-tampala, S. 



Euxolus caudafus, Moq., Thw. Enum. 248. A. gracilis, Desf , Trim. 

 Syst. Cat. 72. C. P. 291 1. 



Fl. B. Ind. iv. 720. Wight, Ic. t. 1773 {Euxolus caiidatus). 



Stem 12-18 in., erect, much branched, cylindrical, glabrous 

 and shining, usually purplish; 1. i-|— 2| in., ovate or deltoid- 

 ovate, truncate or acute at base, deeply notched at apex, very 

 finely and faintly serrate, glabrous, petiole nearly as long as 

 1., fl. very small, sessile, clusters axillary and in slender, taper- 

 ing, interrupted, terminal and axillary paniculate spikes, 

 bracts ovate, acute, glabrous ; per.-leaves 3, longer than 

 bracts, broadly oval, subacute, membranous with a green 

 keel ; stam. 3 (or 2) ; styles 2 or 3, short ; fruit compressed, 

 pointed, rugose, glabrous, indehiscent, seed lenticular. 



Roadsides and waste ground ; very common and gregarious. Fl. 

 October-December, &c.; pale green. 



In all Tropical and warm countries. 



One of the most abundant of roadside weeds. I do not think it is 

 ever cultivated, though eaten as a pot-herb like the other species. Sir 

 J. Hooker vouches for this being A. viridis of Linnasus's herb. 



5. A. polyg-onoides, L. Am. Acad. v. 409 (1760). Araikkiral, T. 



Moon Cat. 63. Euxolus polygonoides, Thw. Enum. 248. C. P. 3643. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iv. 721 {A. polygamus, L.). Wight, Ic. tt. 512, 719. 



Stem prostrate with many spreading branches, glabrous; 

 1. small, \-\ in., obovate-lanceolate or spathulate, acute at 

 base, obtuse or rounded, sharply apiculate, rather stiff, 

 glabrous ; fl.-clusters all axillary, bracts subulate, sharply 

 acuminate ; per.-leaves 3, oblong, sharply acuminate ; stam. 



