Arthrocnemum!\ ChenOpodiocece. 407 



when young covered with white scaly pubescence; 1. numerous, 

 small, \-\ in., oval or oblong-oval, acute at base, rounded or 

 emarginate at apex, entire, completely covered on both sides 

 with a layer of minute white shining scales, petiole very short, 

 obscure; fl. sessile, in small clusters on short interrupted ter- 

 minal spikes sometimes branched at the base; bracts and 

 perianth covered with white scaly coating, bracts in fruit \ in., 

 somewhat connate at base, roundish, toothed, smooth or with 

 warty prominences on back; seed ovoid, compressed, brown, 

 shining. 



Sandy seashores in the dry region ; rather common. Jaffna, abund- 

 ant ; Neduntivu (Delft) 'Is.; Kalpitiya; Karativu I. Fl. February, 

 August, &c. 



Also in S. India and Persia. 



The Tamils of Jaffna eat this as a vegetable. 



Chenopodium murale, L., has occasionally occurred as a casual weed 

 about Kandy (Moon) and at Trincomalie (Glenie, C. P. 3658). It is 

 included in Thw. Enum. 246, but has no claims to nativity here. 



C. ambrosioides^ L., a tall, erect plant, strongly aromatic, is a common 

 weed in Dimbula and some other up-country districts. It is a recent 

 introduction, probably during the construction of the railway, and first 

 noticed in 1882. Well figured in Wight, Ic. t. 1786; its native country is 

 doubtful. 



C. opulifolium, Schrad., has occurred as a weed near Kandy. 



2. ARTKROCNEMUBX, Moq. 



Perennial, somewhat shrubby, leafless, fleshy, jointed, fl. 

 minute, bisexual, 2 or 3 together in axils of fleshy imbricated 

 scales forming short stout cone-like spikes ; perianth ob- 

 pyramidal, truncate, spongy; stam. i; styles 2; utricle mem- 

 branous, enclosed in thickened perianth ; seed solitary, 

 compressed, smooth, embryo curved half round farinaceous 

 endosperm. — Sp. 7 or 8 ; 2 in Fl. B. Ind. 



A. indicuxn, Moq. Chenopod. Enum. 113 (1840). SLotanai, T. 



Salicornia indica, Willd., Moon Cat. 2. Thw. Enum. 246. C. P. 2262. 

 Fl. B. Ind. V. 12. Wight, Ic. t. J^^J {Salicornia indica). 



Stems usually prostrate, with a woody core, branches erect 

 or ascending, jointed, very fleshy, with many short branches, 

 joints \-\ in., broad, thick, dilated and 2-toothed at summit; 

 spikes J-f in., wider than joints, cylindrical, blunt, bracts 

 spongy ; seed triangular, much compressed, testa thin, crusta 

 ceous, yellow. 



Seacoast, in places occasionally flooded by the tide in the dry 

 districts ; common. Abundant about Jaffna. Fl. December-February. 

 Also in India and Trop. Africa. 



