404 Ainaraniacecu. [Achyranthes. 



opp. branches ; 1. 3-5 in., lanceolate-oval, tapering to base, 

 acuminate, acute, sparingly hairy on both sides, petiole ^-i in.; 

 fl. rather large (for genus), spikes rather close, 8-12 in., thick, 

 pubescent, bracts small, acuminate, bractlets short, rotundate, 

 membranous ; sep. \ in., enlarged and with a much thickened 

 base in fruit, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous, rigid, the 

 upper (outer) one larger, mucronate, and slightly curved 

 upwards at end ; staminodes fimbriate, fruit nearly globose. 



In shallow water in the dry region, very rare. Side of tank at 

 Madatugama, N. Central Prov. Fl. July. 

 Also in India, Burma, and Trop. Africa. 



2. A. aspera, L. S/>. PI. 204 (1753). G-as-karal-h6ba, .S". 

 Nayuruvi, T. 



Herm. Mus. 20. Burm. Thes. 16. Moon Cat. 18. Thw. Enum. 249. 

 C. P. 2243. 



Fl. B. Ind. iv. 730. Burm. Thes. t. 5, f 3. Wight, Ic. t. 1777. 



Stem 1-2 ft., erect, stiff, with {^w long spreading branches, 

 cylindrical, thickened above nodes, striate, pubescent; 1. few, 

 on very short petioles, obovate or oval, tapering to base, 

 usually rounded, sometimes acute at apex, entire but often 

 very undulate, usually finely and softly pubescent on both 

 sides ; fl. numerous, stiffly reflexed against rachis, densely 

 crowded, spikes slender, attaining 12-15 ii^- i" front, woolly- 

 pubescent, bracts short, reflexed, ovate, membranous, with a 

 long very acute point, bractlets very sharply spinescent (very 

 hard with fruit), with a broad membranous wing at base; per.-l. 

 about \ in., oblong-oval, acute, glabrous and shining, with a 

 narrow white membranous margin; stam. 5, staminodes large, 

 truncate, fimbriate; fruit very small, oblong-cylindrical, trun- 

 cate, nearly smooth, brown, enclosed in hardened per. 



Var. /3, argrentea, Hk. f. A. argentea, Thw. Enum. 249 (? Lam.). 

 C, P. 2909. 



L. white, silky-pubescent on both sides. 



Waste land and in grass, a very common weed. Var. f^, Kalutara 

 (Moon). Fl. Oct. -Dec, &c.; greenish-white. 



Throughout the Tropics. 



The hardened perianth containing the fruit disarticulates from the 

 rachis above the bract, carrying away with it the spinescent bractlets by 

 which it becomes attached to other objects and is transported. 



There is only a single specimen of var. /^ in Herb. Perad., and that a 

 very poor one. Thwaites quotes for it A. rubrofiisca^ Wight, Ic. t. 177S. 



Diuretic and jiurgative, much used in native medicines. 



3. A. bidentata, AY. Pujd. 545 (1825). 

 Thw. Enum. 249. C. P. 730. 



Fl. H. Ind. iv. 730. Wight, Ic. t. 1779. 



