ERIOCAULACE^. 4^7 



Genera 6, species 6 to 700, in the warmer parts of the 

 world. 



The family might be described as the composite of the Dicotyledons, 



ERIOCAULON. 



Hatpin-flower. 



Herbs with all the leaves near the ground, and flower- 

 heads on slender leafless scapes. Leaves narrow, 

 ribbed. Flowers Y^ to 1/20 inch long, each in the axil of 

 a bract, whose grey turned-up end usually shows on 

 the surface of the head. Sepals three, boat-shaped, or 

 united into a spathe-like sheath which is split down in 

 front. Petals three, on a short or long corolla tube, in 

 all our species fringed with thick white hairs, and some 

 at least with a prominent black mark near the top. 

 Corolla tube in the male flower long : stamens six, with 

 prominent anthers. Ovary in the female flower stalked 

 above the sepals : petals springing from just below the 

 ovary, and between the cells, oblanceolate or spathulate. 

 Fruit three nutlets. 



A very difficult genus, the flowers being minute and their differences 

 only to be made out with the help of a good lens and much care. 



A monograph has recently appeared in Engler's Das PJianzeureich 

 but as regards the Indian species is far from complete. Four new species 

 described by me in the Kew Bulletin are illustrated here for the first time : 

 as also I believe are the other three species. 



{ Heads J^ inch or more across : scape about i foot , b 

 \Head under Y2 inch: scape 6 inches or less . . . . c. 

 r Leaves thick, smooth : heads thick . . . E. robustum. 

 b < Leaves hairy : heads flat : involucral bracts black . . 

 ( E. nilagirense. 



\ Scapes 4 to 6 inches tufted : involucral bracts black ; 



I receptacle villous d 



c \ Scapes solitary e 



Scapes tufted i to 2^^ inches : involucral bracts brown. 



E. mariae 



