31. Knoxia.] 77. RUBIACE.E. 



falling away from or with tlie columella. Seeds with thickened 

 funicle. Embryo axile, cotyledons thin. 



Leaves petioled acute. Mericarps united 1. cori/mbom. 



Leaves sessile obtuse. Mericarps separating" 2. hrachycarpa. 



1. K. corymbosa, Willd. Syn. Spermacoce teres and S. exserta, -F.L 

 An erect sparingly branched slender annual 1-4 ft. high Avith 



pubescent or tomentose stems, Jong narrow acuminate leaves 3-5" long 

 and terminal corymbosely branched cymes Avith the minute Avhite or 

 purplish flowers siib-spicately arranged on its branches. The some- 

 Avhat compressed and ridged fruit is 07 -"OO" long and falls aAvay 

 from the central persistent filiform columella leaving a minute per- 

 foration through its axis ; the mericarps remain united. Seeds black, 

 flat on one face and keeled on the other. 



Common throughout the province in grass lands and also under shade. Fl., Fr. 

 Aug.-Dec. 



Stem with long internodes, 3-chotoniously Tn-anched above, hairs crisped. L. 

 ta])ering both ends more or less pubescent, with 6-10 slender oblique sec. n. Spici- 

 form branches of cyme ■25-1" long. Corolla about OG-'OS" long. Stamens 

 included. 



2. K. hrachycarpa, Bl. Syn. Spermacoce Isevis, F.I. 



A herb of similar habit to the last. Stems often grooved and with 

 tAvo lines only of pubescence on the rounded faces. LeaA'es oblong 

 2-4" with obtuse or rounded tip and usually obtuse base, sessile. 

 FloAvers lilac, very shortly pedicelled, about "IS" long including the 

 ovary. Mericarps oblong, "OS" long, plano-convex, separating and 

 falling separately from the persistent filiform columella. 



Top of Parasnath, C. B. Clarke ! Fl., Fr. Oct. 



Stems sometimes hairy, F.B.I. I^eaves erect hairj- on the nerves, sec. u. 8-10 

 very oblique. Corolla 'I^-'IS" with obtuse lobes. 



32. RUBIA, L. 



Scabrid or prickly erect diffuse or climbing herbs Avith Avhorled 

 leaves. FloAvers small or minute, in axillary and terminal cymes, 

 pedicels jointed Avith the floAver. Hypanthium ovoid or globose. 

 Calyx 0. Corolla rotate or shortly bell- or funnel-shaped, lobes 4-6 

 valvate. Stamens 4-6 on the tube, anthers globose or oblong, 

 exserted. Ovary 2-celled, style 2-fid or styles 2, stigma capitate. 

 Ovules 1 erect in each cell attached to the septitm. Fruit small 

 didymous, or globose by the suppression of one carpel, indehiscent, 

 often fleshy. Seeds adhering to the pericarp, cotyledons broad tliin, 

 radicle slender inferior. 



Leaves ovate-cordate, 4 in a whorl, petioled 1. cordifolia. 



LeaA^es sub-acicular, 4r-8 in a whorl, sessile 2. a)i<jHsfhfima. 



1. R. cordifolia, L. Manjit, H. ; Jata Singhi, Birja ; Madder. 



A herb scrambling over bushes by means of its scabrid or minutely 

 aculeate stems, petioles and Avhorled leaves. Leaves ovate-cordate 

 acuminate or, in our area, usually ovate-lanceolate Avith rounded or 

 cordate base, 2-3" long Avith 5-7 principal nerves, scabrid above, 

 hairy beneath. Petiole 1-3" aculeate Avith small hooked prickles. 



452 



