acanthace^. 311 



heads or spikes. Corolla lobes in bud overlapping 

 each other to the left. Stamens four (or two only 

 fertile), of two lengths, filaments close together at the 

 base. Ovary with two seeds in each cell (four in all). 



Species 200, nearly all in Asia and especially on the 

 Western Ghats of South India. 



Many of the species are 7nulticnnials^ i.e., the plant flowers 

 once only and then dies down ; and on these hills since nearly 

 all the plants of a species flower as a rule in the same season, 

 there is a great outburst of flower once in every few years. 

 Between these years, it is often very difficult to find a single 

 plant in flower. 



The genus is remarkable for the variation in the pollen grains of different 

 species and Clarke in Ms. at Kew has proposed dividing the Indian 

 species among four genera, as follows : — 



ENDOPOGON Nees ; stamens two only, pollen grain ellipsoid with 

 twelve to twenty ribs. Species of F.B.I. Nos. 6 and 12 to 20. 



GUTZLAFFIA EuHce ; stamens two only, pollen grains with tubercles or 

 spines. Species of F.B. I. Nos. 5, 7, 9— II. 



ACANTHOPALE Clarke ; Stamens four, pollen grains with spines or 

 prickles. Species of F.B.I. Nos. 22, 25, 28, 38, 43, 47, 60, 62 to 65, 76. 



STROBILANTHES Blume ; Stamens four, pollen grains ellipsoid with 

 twelve to twenty longitudinal ribs. Sp. of F.B.I. 23, 24, 26, 27 and the 

 remainder. 



Strobilanthes foliosus T. Anders.; F.B.L iv 433, 

 XVni 12. ENDOPOGON. Stem and branches glabrous, 

 angular. Leaves ovate-acuminate, narrowed to the 

 stalk, ij^ to 3 inches, finely serrate : nerves evenly 

 spaced, arching forwards. Racemes very short and 

 capitate : outer bract leafy embracing the raceme by a 

 dilated base. Corolla with a narrower portion % inch, 

 and an upper campanulate part I by J^ inch, with 

 rounded lobes. Stamens two- Pollen grains ellipsoid 

 with about twenty longitudinal ribs. Seeds shining, 

 drab-coloured like small pebbles. Wight Sp. Nilg. 

 171 ; Ic. t. 1501. 



var capitatus. Hairy on the peduncles, inner bracts 

 and younger stems, otherwise similar. Wight Ic. t. 1499 

 (Endopogon capitatus) ; Sp. Nilg. t. 170. 



Nilgiris and Pulney hills on the outskirts of woods 5,000 

 to 7,000 feet. Fjson 1045,1183. Bourne ii37) i35o> 5245» 



