2. Leba-1 38. AMPELIDACEM. 



Lflts. up to 12" by 3J* (Clarke gives 4" by 2fc* only, but there is abso- 

 lutely no doubt of the identity of the two. He transfers the arboreous 

 Sikkim form to a new species umbraculifera). Base rounded or cuneate. 

 Sec. n. 7-15 prs. much raised beneath united by very fine parallel tertiaries' 

 Petiolules J-l*- 



7. L. robusta, Roxb. Horn, Horom, K.; Haramda, 

 hatkan, S. 



• A large sub-woody shrnb 4-6 ft. with more or less tomen- 

 tose branchlets, large 2-3-pinnate leaves with lflts. pubescent 

 beneath and large branched usually geminate corymbs 7-15" 

 diam. The plant somewhat reminds one of an Elder bush. 



In ravines or along nalas or on cool aspects , not unfrequent in Sing- 

 bhum, and S. P. ; Hundrugagh, Prain I El. Aug. Pr. Nov.-Dec. Appar- 

 ently dies down annually. 



L. 2-3 ft. lflts. oblong to oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, attaining 11" by 3J' with several serr^tures to one nerve, pale 

 beneath, sec. n. about 11 prs. ab<ve the 5-7-nerved base, oblique with 

 numerous strong' parallel tertiaries. Cymes 2-3 cbotomously branched, 

 bracbiate Peduncles pubescent. Berry purple-black \" diam. depressed. 

 Bracts not persistent. 



Series B. (vide p. 51). 



Fara. 39. CACTACEiE. 



Usually succulent shrubs with thick, fleshy often jointed 

 stems, and leaves reduced to spines. Pis. regular, often very 

 large, 2-sexual, torus sometimes sunk in tbe stem. Sepals 

 and petals merging into one another. Stamens very numer- 

 ous springing from the tube. Ovary inferior with several 

 parietal placentae. Style one hollow, with as many stigmas 

 as there are placentae. Fruit a berry. 



The structure of tbe Tactaceae is generally remarkably adapted to 

 periods of drought, and the similar conditions have led to similar fleshy 

 stems in some other groups of plants (e.g. spp. of Euphorbia) which are 

 sometimes confounded with them. 



281 



