SANTALACE^. 357 



SANTALACE/E. 



Sandalwood^ etc. 



Trees, shrubs or lowly herbs, some parasitic on the 

 roots of other plants, with entire leaves and small 

 greenish inconspicuous flowers, with a bract and two 

 bracteoles. Perianth single of three to six parts. 

 Stamens as many. Ovary inferior, of one cell with two 

 or three ovules attached to a central column. 



Species about 200 in tropical and temperate regions, 

 dispersed widely all over the world. 



The Sandalwood Sanfahim album is, economically, the most 

 valuable species. Several of the smaller plants, e.g., species of 

 Thesium, are parasitic on cereal plants, etc., and do some 

 damage. 



Small plant 3 to 6 inches, with linear leaves . . . thesium. 

 Bush with broad leaves . osyris. 



THESIUM. F.B.I. 133 I. 



Slender perennial herbs, parasitic on the roots of 

 other plants. Leaves alternate, narrow. Flowers small, 

 greenish. Ovary inferior : perianth continued above it ; 

 lobes five, hairy. Stamens five. Ovules two or three. 

 Fruit a small indehiscent nut, with one seed. 



Species about 100, in temperate and tropical regions of the 

 Old World. England has i Sp., the Bastard Toadflax, Ger, 

 Vermeinkraut. 



Thesium wightianum Wall, Cat 4037 J ; F.B.L v 

 230,12. A small herb with slender short or straggling 

 branches springing from a woody rootstock and linear 

 yellowish green leaves 1/2 by 1/12 inch. Flowers 

 axillary or terminal, white. Fruit spherical, i/i 2 inch, 

 crowned by the perianth. Wight Ic. t. 1852, ex. anthers. 



On the open downs in grass — common. Fyson 688. Bourne 

 2291, 4788. 



Geu. Dist. Nilgiri and Pulney hill-tops. 



