1. Dioscobba. ] 89. DIOSCOUEACEM. 



9. D. pentaphylla, I*. Baiom sanga, Itulad sanga, K. 



A much more slender plant than the la9t. Tabers oblong 

 or clavate, direct from the stem. Stem with small prickles. 

 L. 3-5-fol., leaflets about 4" by 2-2|" or less, rarely attain- 

 ing 6", 1-costate with another strong nerve from near its 

 base, oblanceolate to obovate. M. fl. in linear spikes £-1}" 

 long., in panicles 3-9" long. F. spikes 6-8*. Capsules 

 oblong f-1". 



Singbhum in valleys, frequent. Fls. Aug. Fr. Nov.-Dec. 



Bulbils elongate or obpyriform. M. spiTces on peduncles £-|" long. 

 Bracts usually acutely lobed nearly as long as the flowers pubescent, 

 bracteoles much smaller. Sepals and petals sub-equal ovate. St. 3 only 

 fertile, staminodes 3. Pistillode large. 



The tubersare eaten. 



Prain and Burkill distinguish two well-marked varieties, both of which 

 occur in Chota Nagpur, viz. -.— 



Var. Linnaei. Silvery grey. Tuber white and soft 



Var. Eumphii. Busty-red. Boot puoe-coloured and stringy. 



Fam. 90. COMMELINACEJS. 



Herbs rarely shrubby, with cymose often capitate or 

 panicled, small more or less zygomorphic, rarely regular, 

 flowers. L. sometimes broad, parallel-nerved. Inflorescence 

 often, enclosed in spathaceous often boat-shaped bracts. 

 Perianth heterochlamydeous. Sep. 3 usually green. Petals 

 3, sometimes very unequal. St. hypogynous or epipetalous, 

 all 6-perfect, or 3 or more reduced to staminodes, filaments 

 often bearded with long coloured hairs. Ovary 3-2-celled, 

 superior, with few ovules in each cell which are orthotropous. 

 Fruit capsular. Seeds often broader than long with a minute 

 embryo opposite the hilum, sometimes capped by a shield- 

 like boss of the testa.- 

 A. Stamens only 2 or 3 perfect. 



" Cymes restricted and included in a epathe, Petals 



unequal 1. Commelina. 



Cymes not included in a spathe, often panicled. Pet. 

 equal. . . • . . • • • .2. Aneilema. 



534 



