78. COMPOSITyE. [14. Athroisma. 



tinctly denticulate. Heads small witb iiivol. bracts •15-'21" long- dry sharp- 

 pointed. 



13. sph;eranthus, l. 



Annual herbs Avitli branches spreading" from the root and alt. 

 decnrrent toothed leaves. Heads apparently large but consisting of 

 many small heads sessile on a common receptacle and forming- globose 

 or ovoid clusters resembling single heads, clusters usually involu- 

 crate. Heads disciform heterogamous, outer fem. fls. few or many, 

 slender, minutely 2-3-toothed, central fls. herm., fertile or stei"ile 

 with thickened tube and 4 5-toothed limb. Invol. bracts narro\y 

 acute dry unequal. Anther-bases sagittate, auricles tailed or only 

 acute. Style arms of herm. fl. filiform or connate. Cypsele oblong, 

 sub-compressed. Pappus 0. 



1. S. indicus, L. Syn. S. hirtus, Wllld. ; Mundi, H. ; Murmuria, 

 G^horkmundi, Beng. ; Murisa, Biiikadam, Or. ; Belaunja, S. 



A viscous pubescent strongly scented herb with winged stems, 

 sessile obovate or oblanceolate toothed leaves 1-2" long and terminal 

 and leaf-opposed compound magenta- coloured heads "o-'TS" long; 

 common receptacle elongated surrounded by many linear bracts with 

 soft sub-spinous tips. 



■\Vet places, rice-fields, etc. Common throughout the province. Fl,, Fr. c.s. and 

 until the hahitat drys up. 



Stems attaining 1 ft. or 18" in length, Decurrent wings toothed and peduncles 

 also with crisped or toothed wiugs. Fem. ti. with 2 linear style arms. Herm. fl. 

 with tailed anther-cells and long subulate pubescent stj'le. 



The root is used as a stomachic and anthelmintic and the seeds have the same 

 properties. The flowers are esteemed as alteratives" and tonics, useful in .skin 

 ■diseases. JS'odknnii. 



14. ATHROISMA, DC. 



An annual herb with alt., petiolod pinnatifid leaves and small heads 

 in globose or ovoid terminal peduncled clusters as in Sphxranthus, 

 sessile on a common cylindrical receptacle without common involucre. 

 Individual heads ovoid, receptacle furnished with broad dry pales 

 enclosing the flowers and 1-2 invol. bracts like the pales. Outer fls. 

 fem. very few, filiform, herm. fls. several Avith campanulate shortly 

 4-fid limb, anther-bases with connate acute auricles. Style arms of 

 herm. fl. short flattened obtuse. Cypsele black, inner face flat, outer 

 convex margin ciliate. Pappus of short stellately spreading finely 

 fimbriate connate scales. 



1. A. laciniatuni, DC. 



A viscid, glabrous papillose or pubescent herb with ascending 

 branches 6-18" long. Leaves few 1-2" with oblong toothed segments. 

 Clusters of heads white, 'S-lo" long. 



Marshy places along the foot of the Rajmehal Hills, ITiirz. Fl., Fr. April-May. 



L. l'5-'2*6" long with segments oblong toothed or sometimes coar.sely-toothed or 

 lobulate. Compound heads globose or ovoid-oblong •2.5-*5 long on short clavate 

 peduncles. Individual heads ovoid "15" with the broad pales very conspicuous and 

 wrapping round the flowers as in many Helianthoidea\ Ray fls. very few (I do 

 not find them in some heads). Herm. fls. corolla '07". Cypsele "06" trabeculate 

 with shortly woolly margins. 



473 



