2 PLUMB AGrlXACEM. [Voqelia. 



above into 5 stigmatose branches. Capsule membranous, circum- 

 sciss near the ba?e, often splitting upwards into 5 valves. — Species 10, 

 in the warmer regions of both hemispheres. 



P. zeylanica. Linn. Sp. PI. 151 ; Boxb. Fl. Ind. i, 462 ; Royle III. 311 ; 

 F. B. I. Hi, 4S0 ; Watt E. D. ; Collett Fl. Siml. 293 ; Prain Beng. Fl. 639 ; 

 Cooke Fl. Bomb, ii, 78. — Vern. Chitra. 



A rambling subscandent perennial herb. Stem somewhat woody, striate, 

 glabrous. Leaves shortly petioled, l|-4 in. long, ovate, acute, entire, 

 thin, glabrous, often glaucous beneath, suddenly narrowed at the base, 

 lower portion of the petiole dilated and often furnished with stipule like 

 auricles. Flowers in long spike-like racemes, the rachis glandular, 

 striate; bracteoles much short ir than the calyx, ova^e, acuminate. 

 Calyx about £ in. long, narrowly tubular, 5-ribbed, densely covered 

 with spreading stalked crimson glands ; teeth very short. Corolla 

 with salver-shaped slender tube f-1 in. long, white, lobes apiculate. 

 Filaments equalling the corolla-tube ; anthers slightly exserted. Cap- 

 sale enclosed within the persisteat calyx, oblong, pointed, pericarp 

 thickened above. Seeds oblmg. 



Extensively cultivated within the are i, and in many places apparently 

 wild. D ist rib. : Throughout the hotter parts of India, and in tropical 

 regions of the Old World. The medicinal properties of the root of thi3 

 plant are wjII koown to Indian practitioners. 



Two other 8p3cies of Plumbago are much cultivated in gardens as orna- 

 mental plants. P. rosea, L. with scarlet flower-j, is a native of Sikkim and 

 the Khasia Hills. Except in the colour of tie flowers it very much 

 resembles P. zeylanica, and it possesses similar medicinal properties. 

 P. capensis, Thunb., a native of South Africa, has pale blue flowers, 

 and the leaves are arranged in whirls. 



VOGrELIA Lamk. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iii, 481. 



Small shrubs, more or less cavered with scales. Branches long. 

 Leaves alternate, entire. Flower* in terminal panicled spikes ; 

 bracts and bracteoles small. Calyx deeply 5-fid., with 5 broad 

 transversely undulate wings between the ribs, not glandular. 

 Corolla-tube oylindric ; lobes 5, round, spreading. Stamens free ; 

 fi'aoients linear, their bases shortly dilated. Ovary oblong-fusi- 

 form, somewhat pentagonal; style filiform, ita 5 branches ^ stig- 

 inatose throughout. Capsule included in the calyx, circumsciss at 

 the very base, finally splittiog upwards into 5 valves. — Species 3, one 

 in S. Africa, the other two Arabian, one of which extends to India. 



V. indie a, Gibs, ex Wight in Cole. Journ. Nat. Hist, vii, 17 ; F. B. I.ii, 

 451 ; Brandis Ind. Trees 413 ; Gamble Man. 436 ; Cooke Fl. Bomb, ii, 79. 



