59G i-xx. iiUBi.vcE.i;. 



specimens on it were collected by Dr. Eitcliie, but ihe locality whence they were 

 obtained is not given. Tliey may have been collected at or near Eelgaum, where 

 Dr. Kitehie collected largely, but there is absolutely no evidence that such was tbe 

 case, or that they were found within tlie limits of the Presidency at all. 



13. OPHIORRHIZA, Linn. 



Erect, creeping or decumbent small lierbs, rarely uuderslirubs. Leaves 

 opposite ; stipules iuterpetiolar, caducous. Elowers secund on the 

 brandies of axilhiry or terminal dicbotomous cymes, with or without 

 bracts. Calyx-tube short ; lobes 5, small, persistent. Corolla tubular 

 or funnel-shaped ; lobes 5, valvate in bud, often winged or appendaged 

 at the back, sometimes also with a fold in the sinus. Stamens 5, inserted 

 below the throat of the corolla, usually included ; anthers linear. Disk 

 of 2 large prominent erect lobes which become much enlargetl in fruit. 

 Ovary 2-celled ; ovules many in each cell, inserted on basal ascending 

 placentas ; style filiform ; stigmas 2, broad or linear. Capsule coriaceous, 

 compressed, obcordate, girt by the calyx-limb, the crown dehiscing by 

 2 broad gaping valves ; placentas divaricating, many-seeded. Seeds 

 minute, angled ; testa thinly crustaceous ; embryo clavate in fleshy 

 albumen. — Distrib. Tropical Asian, with a few Australian and Poly- 

 nesian ; species about 50. 



1. Ophiorrhiza Harrisiana, Heyne, in Wall. Cat. (1S28) 6230. 

 Herbaceous, woody at the base, 6-15 in. high ; branches numerous, 

 often rooting near the base, glabrous or more or less pubescent. Leaves 

 2-31 ]jy i_ii in., elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 

 glabrous or with a few scattered hairs above, whitish on the lower 

 surface and pubescent on the nerves beneath ; petioles ^-^ in. long ; 

 stipules with 1 or more long rather stout bristles. Flowers in rather 

 dense terminal cymes ; peduncles and pedicels densely hairy ; bracteoles 

 at base of pedicels -^ in. long, linear, acute, hairy. Calyx j\ in. long, 

 hairy; tube turbinate; teeth J^ in. long, triangular, acute. Corolla 

 I in. long, externally pubescent ; lobes yL in. long, triangular-oblong, 

 acute, not keeled on the back, pubescent inside. Capsules somewhat 

 canoe-shaped, pubescent, much compressed, i-5 in. broad, much broader 

 than long, rounded at the ends, surmounted by the very distant short 

 calvx-teeth. Fl. B. I. v. 3, p. 78 ; Trim. Fl. Ceyl". v. 2, p. 32L 

 Ophiorrhiza Jfarrisonii, Wight, Icon. t. 1162 ; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 117.— 

 Flowers : Aug. 



Konkan: S(oc/:s\; Aniba Ghat, IVoodrow. S. M. Country: Ramghat, Dahell cj- 

 Gibson. Kanaka: Hohcnhacker.T^Ial; Divimana, K'lyorZroM' ; near Gondabel, I'ai'^c/Z; 

 ]3ombardi, Ritchie, 1775 .'— Distkib. Throughout India in hilly districts; Ceylon. 



14. MUSS-flGNDA, Linn. 

 Shrubs or undershrubs (rarely herbs), erect or climbing. Leaves 

 opposite or 3-nately whorled ; stipules iuterpetiolar, solitary or twin, 

 usually deciduous. Flowers yellow or scarlet (rarely white) in terminal 

 cymes ; bracts and bracteoles deciduous. Calyx-tube oblong or turbinate ; 

 lobes 5, usually deciduous, one frequently forming a large stalked white 

 or colored leaf. Corolla infundibuhform ; tube usually silky, throat 

 villous ; lobes 5, short, iuduplicato-valvate. Stamens 0, inserted in the 

 throat of the corolla or lower down : filaments very short ; anthers 



