, 
fi 
; 
_ Amarantus.]  AMARANTAOCEZ. 13 
up. Roxburgh states that the plant is known only in cultivation, 
and that it is held in great esteem as a pot-herb by all classes of 
the natives.—A. mangostanus, L. is very probably only a stunted 
and prostrate form of A. gangeticus, or a feral state of the variety 
tristis as suggested by Prain. A. polygamus of Roxburgh (now re- 
garded as a synonym of -4. tristis) is described by him as, sometimes 
having the terminal clusters in spikes as in A. gangeticus. 
5. A, viridis, Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1405 ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii, 605 ; 
F. B. I. iv, 720; Watt BE. D. ; Comm. Prod. Ind. 63 ; Prain Beng. 
Pl. 871; Cooke Fl. Bomb. ii, 490. A. fasciatus, Rowxb. l. c. 609. 
An erect much-branched glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. high ; branches 
sulcate, often tinged with purple. Leaves 1-3 in. long, ovate or 
deltoid-ovate, rounded and usually notched at the apex, the base 
truncate or cuneate, petioles $-2 in. long. Flowers shortly stalked, 
pale-green, arranged in small axillary clusters and in slender axillary 
and terminal panicled spike-like racemes ; bracts shorter than the 
sepals, ovate-oblong, acute, membranous and with a green keel. 
Sepals 3, similar to the bracts, but longer. Stamens 3. Fruit in- 
dehiscent, compressed, suborbicular, acute, rugose. Seeds minute, 
lenticular, black and shining. 
A common weed in cultivated greund throughout India, flowering during 
the rainy and cold seasons. It is widely distributed in all tropical 
countries, and may be easily recognised by its slender panicled spikes 
and indehiscent herbaceous fruits. The tender tops are eaten. 
Roxburgh’s A. fasciatus is regarded as a sport with a pale crescent- 
shaped band across the leaf. 
6. A. Blitum, Linn. Sp. Pl. 990; F. B. I. w, 721; Watt E. D.; 
Prain Beng. Pl. 871. 
A glabrous procumbent annual. Leaves small, long-petioled, oblong 
ovate or rounded, usually 2-lobed at the apex; base acute. Flowers 
in axillary clusters. Sepals 3, shorter than the utricle, linear-oblong 
or lanceolate, obtuse and apiculate or acute. Stamens 3. Utricle 
orbicular or brozdly ovate, membranous, usually indehiscent. 
A common weed throughout India and in Ceylon, extending to many 
other countries in temperate and tropical regions. The plant is much 
used as a pot-herb in India. 
Var. Oleracea, F. B. /. iv, 721 ; Watt E.D. ; Duthie Field and Garden 
Crops, part iii, 18 ; Prain Beng. Pl. 871 ; Cooke Fl. Bomb. ii, 490.— 
Vern. Chaulai.—A tall erect glabrous succulent herb. Stem stout,. 
