XCVI. ACANTHACE.^. 351 



of similar shape, the 3 parallel nerves less strong, not produced into 

 teeth at the truncate or slightly emarginate ciliate apex ; lateral 

 segments 5 in. long, ovate, acute, 1-nerved. Corolla 5-^ in. long ; 

 middle lobe of lower lip quadrate, truncate, twice as long and twice as 

 broad as the rounded lateral ones ; tube ^ in. long, constricted below 

 the limb. Capsules 5 by ■!■ in., ellipsoid, compressed, naiTowed at both 

 ends, glabrous, shining. Seeds ^ in. long, ovoid, compressed, densely 

 clothed with thick hairs which are longer than the nucleus. Fl. B. I. 

 V. 4, p. 479; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 356. 

 Acantliodium grossum^ Wight, Icon. tt. 1535 & 1536 (middle lobe of the 

 lower lip of the corolla not well shewn), not of Nees. — Flowers : Aug.- 

 Sept. Veen. Jasad. 



Tolerably common in Sind, also found at Deesa. Gujarat : Deesa, Stocks I Smn : 

 Stocks], Dahell, 29!, Woodroivl, Bhola Puranl; Karachi, Cooke I; Jemadar ka 

 Landa near Karachi, Stocks I — Distrib. India (Panjab). 



Very near to Biepharis linearitBfolia (Pers. Syn. v. 2 (1807) p. 180), a Tropical 

 African plant, from which, however, I consider it distinct. The corolla differs fro'u 

 that of the African plant. T. Anderson in Journ. Linn. Soc. v. 7, p. 36, and in 

 several manuscript notes which I have seen, is most emphatic in his opinion as to tbe 

 nou- identity of the 2 species. 



Excluded Species. 



BLEFHABIS EDULIS, Pers. Syn. v. 2 (1807) p. 180. This plant, which is said to 

 occur in Sind, has not been hitherto found in that Province. The specimens in Herb. 

 Kew. collected by Stocks are all from Beluchistan. The plant is widely distributed, 

 occurring in Abyssinia, Nubia, Egypt, Arabia Petrica and Arabia Felix, and 

 Persia. 



8, ACANTHUS, Linn. 

 Erect or twining herbs or shrubs. Leaves pinnatifid, toothed, 

 spinous or rarely entire. Flowers in terminal densely strobilate or 

 interrupted spikes ; bracts large, ovate, spinescent or small ; bracteoles 

 large, lanceolate, rarely 0. Calyx divided almost to the base ; segments 

 4, in 2 opposite pairs, the outer the larger. Corolla 2-lipped ; upper lip 

 subobsolete, the lower lip blue or white, elongate, obovate, shortly 

 obtusely 3-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, shorter than the lower lip ; 

 filaments stout, narrowed, curved below the anther, not produced at the 

 apex ; anthers oblong, 1-celled, bearded. Disk 0. Ovary 2-celled ; 

 ovules 2 in each cell; style acute at the tip: stigma shortly 2-fid. 

 Capsule ellipsoid, compressed, shining, brown, 4-seeded. Seeds com- 

 pressed, orbicular, glabrous ; testa lax. — Disteib. Species about lU, 

 extending from S. Europe and Africa to Malaya, Australia, aud 

 Polynesia. 



1. Acanthus ilicifolius, Linn. Sp. PL (1753) p. 639. Stems 

 several, erect, scarcely branched, cylindric, stout, glabrous. Leaves like 

 those of the holly, 3-6 by 2-2| in., oblong or elliptic, usually pinnatifid 

 or toothed, rigid, acute or truncate at the apex, with sharp spinous teeth 

 on the margin terminating the lateral nerves and the midrib ; nerves 

 strong and conspicuous ; petioles | in. long, each with 2 stipule-like 

 spines at the base. Flowers sessile in opposite pairs, in terminal crowded 

 or interrupted spikes varying much in length (4-15 in.) ; bracts g-^ in. 

 long, ovate, acute, glabrous ; bracteoles similar, J-i in. long. Calyx 

 glabrous ; outer segments | in. long, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, mucronulate ; 



