400 Aiuarantace(^. {PsUotrichum. 



2. P. orbiculata, IVighf, Ic. v. 2, 4 (1852). Kumlddil, Pichu- 

 kodiya, T. 



Thw. Enum. 249. C. P. 2234. 



Fl. B. Ind. iv. 724. Wight, Ic. t. 1783. 



Stem woody at base, often prostrate, stout, with long opp. 

 branches, pubescent ; 1. |-i in., broadly ov^al or rotundate, 

 suddenly tapering into petiole, very obtuse, apiculate, hairy 

 on both sides, rather thick, petiole short or obscure; fl.-clusters 

 as in P. atropurpiirea but rather larger ; hooked awns (im- 

 perfect fl.) much lengthening and spreading in fruit; fil. dilated 

 at base ; seed black and polished. 



Sandy seashores in the dry region, common. Fl. Dec.-Feb. ; white, 

 awns yellow. 



Also in S. India. 



The heads when in fruit form large globose burs, which become 

 detached, and are carried about by means of the strongly hooked awns. 



7. PSII.OTRICHUBI, Bl. 



Perennial herbs or shrubs, 1. opp., fl. sessile, each with 2 

 bractlets at base, in short dense spikes; perianth-1. 5, slightly 

 unequal; stam. 5, fil. connate at ba.se to form a shallow cup, 

 no staminodes ; stigma capitate, ovule solitary, pendulous 

 from long basal funicle; fruit membranous, indehiscent; seed 

 solitary, ovoid, compressed. — Sp. 10 ; 5 in Fl. B. Ind. 



Shrubby; sep. rigid, chartaceous . . i. P. SCLERANTHUM. 

 Herb ; sep. soft, herbaceous . . 2. P. CALCEOLATUM. 



1. P. scleranthum, Thiv. Enum. 248 (1861). 

 C. P. 2239. 



Fl. B. Ind. iv. 725. 



A small shrub with slender divaricate branches, bark gre}-, 

 smooth, young branches very slender, hairy; 1. i-iA in., oval- 

 lanceolate, tapering into obscure petiole, acute, entire, finely 

 pubescent on both sides; fl. crowded, spikes terminal, often 

 in threes, sometimes branched, bracts ovate, acuminate, pubes- 

 cent, persistent, bractlets rotundate-ovate, adpressed to fl. 

 mucronate, glabrous ; per.-leaves lanceolate, very acute, rigid, 

 chartaceous, pubescent outside ; seed oblong, brownish-red, 

 polished. 



Dry country, rare. Anuradhapura (Gardner); Uma-oya; Haragama; 

 about Tissamaharama, abundant. Fl. Dec; whitish. 

 Endemic. 



2. P. calceolatuxn, Mmj. in DC. Prod. xiii. 2, 280 (1849). 

 Ptilotus ovalus, Moq., Tiiw. Enum. 248. C. P. 2235. 



Fl.. B. Ind. iv. 725. Wight, Ic. t. 1775 (^- ^ludum). 



