S. Bablebia.] 79. ACANTHACEJE. 



J. B. Prionitis, L. Kanta phul, 8. Kanta jati, Beng. 



A prickly nndershrub 2-5 ft. high with elliptic leaves 1£* 

 by |* to 4" by If" and yellow flowers, one to three together, in 

 the axils and in terminal spikes with elliptic spine-tipped 

 bracts | -1" long. 



Gangpur near the Brahmini River Manbhum, grown as a hedge 

 plant, Camp. ; S.P., near villages (Jurmoondee, etc.). Fls. Fr. Dec-June. 

 Doubtfully wild. 



L. acuminate both ends, narrowed into the £-f "petiole or upper eub- 

 sessile, mostly with axillary spines. Corolla 1£". Capsule f" beaked. 



2. B. Cristata, L. Eaila baba, 8. ; Jati, Beng. 



An erect or diffuse nndershmb 1-3 ft. high with narrow 

 leaves and bright rose-colonred flowers solitary or paired in 

 the leaf axils (in shade) or forming dense capitate spikes on 

 the branchlets (in sunny places). 



Very common on rocky hills in Singbhum and occurs throughout Chota 

 Nagpur, often covered with flowers and then very handsome. The colour 

 of the flowers is quite different to that of the Himalayan plant. 



Fls. 8ept.-Nov. Fr. Oct.-Jany. 



Stems sub-terete strigose. L. ell. to oblong-lanceolate 2-5£" by 

 |-1V sub-acuminate both endB, rarely obtuse, sparsely adpressed "hairy 

 above. Sec. n. about 4-6 prs. Petiole %-%''. Outer sepals ell. or rhomboid 

 $", pectinate, strongly nerved, with adpressed yellowish hairs. CorAube 

 H" long. Upper lip 1-lobed, lower A-f" long. Perfect and imperfect st. 

 each 2- Capsule f '' glabrous shining compressed. 



3. B. strigOSa, Willd. Raila baha, S. ; Dasi, Beng. 



An undersbrub 2-4 ft. high with ovate acuminate leaves 

 4-8' by 2-5" decurrent on the petiole and large handsome azure 

 blue flowers 2" long and 1^" wide in dense bracteolate 1-sided 

 spikes. 



In shady places only. Singbhum. Fls. Oct.-Nov. Fr. Dec. 

 Easily recognized by the two larger sepals being imbricate in a row 

 on the upper side of the spike and the bracteoles in two lateral rows. 



Crossandra undula efolia, Balisb, is an undershrub 2-4 ft. high occur- 

 ring in hedges about Chaibassa under shade, with narrow leaves 2^-5'" 

 with wavy margins ard pale beneath. Flowers deep orange-red, in linear- 

 oblong spikes with imbricating bracts. Cor.-tube curved slender |" long 

 and 1" diam. Fls. July-Oci. 



453 



