i. Tacca. ] 88. TACCACEM. [ I. Dioscobbi. 



flowers yery long and filiform. Fr. about 1*, 6-ribted 

 yellow. 



Singbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh, frequent among rocks in the foreet 

 and open jungles. Pis. Aug.-Sept. 



The root which is acrid and poisonous when fresh yields a nutrition* 

 starch when macerated and repeatedly washed with cold water. 



Fam. 89. DIOSCOREACEJS. 



1, Dioseorea, L. 



Climbers with usually strong annual stems rising from a 

 Urge perennial rhizome, or rhizome small with numerous long 

 fleshy fibres bearing at their endslaige tubers, or tubers rising 

 directly from the base of the stem. L. ait. oropp. 3-5-foliolate 

 or simple, and typically cordate ovate, basal-nerved. Fls. small 

 regular dioecious, with a bract and oblique-bracteole, 8-merous, 

 spicate. Spihs usually several together, often panicled. Sep. 

 and pet. similar or dissimilar, united at base or nearly free, 

 M. #,-with 6 stamens, or 3 inner sterile or opp. to and adnate 

 to the per. leaves, or central. F. fl. with a 3-celled inferior 

 ovary and 3-6 or minute staminodes, stigmas 3 usually 

 2-fid; Ovules 2 in each cell. Capsule sharply 3-cornered or 

 winged. Seeds 2-winged. 



Generally the deep tubers are the edible ones, those lying near the 

 surface being acrid. The tubers are called dhaka in Kol. 

 I. L. simple. St. 6 fertile. Seeda winged all 

 round exc in 5 and 7. 

 A. M. spikes usually stiflPy spreading under 



3', clustered or whorlcd on an elongate 



rachis. 



1. Buds oblong. Sepals oblong. 



a. More or lesB pnbescent all over. F< 



spikes panicled .... 1. anguina. 



b. Glabrous. L. glaucous beneath. F. 



spikes not panicled (exc. by the lose 

 of the upper leaves). 



L« paid glaucous. M. petals obovate. Crosa-nervules 

 obsouie • • • • • . 2. nummularis 



688 



