ACANTHACE.E. 317 



quite glabrous, greenish but purple just above a node. 

 Leaves l% to ij^ by J4 to J^ inch, sessile oblong- 

 lanceolate, obtuse, soft and greyish green, glabrous, 

 minutely punctate, and with finely ciliate margin. 

 Spikes 2 to 4 inches, bracts % by % inch, ovate, very 

 acute, white but with large green nerves ; bracteoles 

 nearly as large. Sepals five, 1/5 inch, all equal, linear 

 acute, joined only near the base. Corolla tube slightly 

 longer, broadening suddenly J^ inch above the base : 

 upper lip 3/5 by 2/5 very concave, notched : lower lip 

 J^ inch wide, three-fid; lobes 1/5 by 1/8 to 1/6 inch, spread- 

 ing widely ; middle lobe rounded, slightly broader than 

 the lateral. Pod M inch, dark purple above, velvety, 

 laterally contracted at the base. Seeds H inch, papillate. 

 t. 211. 



In the open grass. Nilgiris : on the downs, common ; flower- 

 ing early summer down to Pykara. J^yson 644, 2485. Bourne 

 4587, 4774j 4825. Apparently Nilgiris only. 



Justicia simplex Don; F.B.L iv 539, XXXVIII 49. 

 Stem and branches slender villous, procumbent from 

 a perennial rootstock. Leaves ovate or elliptic, acute or 

 not, entire or minutely waved, M to Yz inch, with stalk 

 }^ inch ; covered as are all green parts with white hairs 

 J^ or so long. Spikes terminal, erect, ^ to 2 inches 

 by J4 inch : bracts and sepals ^ inch, narrow hairy. 

 Corolla li. inch pink. Fruit elliptic 1/5 by 1/8 inch. 

 t 212. 



In the open grass. Nilgiris: on the downs, on the banks and 

 sides of cattle tracKS, etc., common from Ootacamund to Pykara, 

 flowering May to September. Pulneys : in sholas on the downs 

 and below. jFy son 606, 1201, 1469, 2898. Bourne 486,* 1688, 

 2104, 4590, 5221. 



Gen. Dist, Widely distributed over India from Kashmir to Travancore. 

 Also Abyssinia, Malay States, etc. 



Don's description was based on a Nepal plant of Wallich's. The 

 Nilgiri specimens are smaller but otherwise I think not in any way 

 diflferent. 



