43- Cliloranthracece. {Chloraj^thus, 



nodes; 1. opp., variable, \-2\ in.; oval or rhomboid-oval or 

 nearly rotundate, tapering at base, often slightly acuminate^ 

 usually obtuse, finely pubescent on both sides, rather thick, 

 pale beneath, with 3 broad very prominent nerves, petiole 

 \-\ in.; spikes 2-4 in., very slender, shortly stalked, glabrous, 

 fl. scattered, rather distant; fruit viscous with sessile glands. 

 Var. /j, hirsuta, Trim. 

 Smaller, 1. \-\ in., very hairy, spikes shorter. 



On wet rocks and trees in low country up to 3000 ft. ; rather common. 

 Hantane ; Lunugala ; Hiniduma. Var. /3, in upper montane zone. 

 Oya; Horton Plains. Fl. November-January. 



Also in S. India. 



Easily known by its dense covering of fine tomentose hairs. I have 

 never seen alt. leaves in Ceylon. 



5. P. refleza, A. Dietr. Sp. PI. i. 180 (1839). 



Thw. Enum. 292. C. P. 2462. 



Fl. B. Ind. V. 99. Wight, Ic. t. 1923, f. i. 



Stems creeping, rooting at nodes, much fasciculately 

 branched, branches erect, quadrangular, pubescent; 1. usually 

 4 in a whorl (rarely opp. or 3), small, \-\ in., on very short 

 petioles, oval or rhomboid-oval or nearly rotundate, obtuse, 

 pubescent, stiff and fleshy, gland-dotted, veins invisible; spikes 

 solitary, terminal |-i in., long-stalked, rather stout, rachis 

 hairy; fruit ovoid, pubescent on top. 



On rocks and trees in the montane zone, 3000-6000 ft. ; common. FL 

 October-January. 



In India, Malaya, China, Australia, Africa, America. 



Cas. DC. gives 13 varieties of this very widely distributed little plant, 

 the Ceylon form coming under var. parvifolia. 



ex.— CHLORANTHACEtE. 



Shrubs, 1. opp., serrate, fl. small, unisexual (but apparently 

 bisexual), in axillary and terminal spikes; perianth o; stam. i, 

 large, fil. fleshy, anth. 2-celled ; ov. i -celled, with a single 

 ovule pendulous from top, stigma sessile ; fruit fleshy, in- 

 dehiscent ; seed solitary, pendulous, embryo minute in copious 

 fleshy endosperm. 



CHX.ORANTHUS, Siuartz. 



Vox characters, see Order. — Sp. S; 2 in Fl. B. Ind. 



