14. D.EDALACANTHUS.] 104. ACANTHACE^. 



oblong-obovate obtuse with a sharp cusp. Capsule •6" long, glabrous, 

 with short point. 



Forests of N. Charaparau, under shade ! Singbhum, in ravines, not uncommon ! 

 Mountains of Mayurbhanj, under shade ! Fl. Jan.-Mai'ch. Fr. April-May. 



Leaves sometiines obscurely crenate-dentate, with a curly pubescence on the 

 strong oblique sec. n. when young, sec. n, 7-12. Petiole '5-1*5". Spikes 1-3" long. 

 Bracteoles and calyx scarious, •25-"3" long, minutely pubescent. Corolla-lobes 

 ■25-"3", broadly elliptic. Anthers exserted. 



2. D. purpurascens, T. Anders. Gulsham, H. 



An undershrub 2-4 ft. high with 4-angled stems and minutely- 

 pubescent branches, large elliptic or ovate acuminate leaves up to 7" 

 by 4*5" with the base decurrent on the petiole. Flowers lilac or rose- 

 purple l'25-2" usually in numerous dense long-peduncled axillaiy 

 spikes or terminal spikes ternate but not in corymbs. Bracts close 

 ovate or rhomboid tapering into a long acumen, usually pale, very 

 prominently veined. Capsule "o-'T". 



In hilly tracts throughout the area from the Monghja- hills southwards ! Chota 

 Nagpur, common in the valleys but does not demand such dense shade and 

 moisture as the last species ! Angul ! Sambalpur! Kalahandi, Cooper I Fl., Fr. 

 Jan. -June. 



Leaves glabrous or somewhat pubescent beneath, closely lineolate, sometimes 

 distinctly crenate-dentate. usually sub-entire, sec. n. 6-9 rather strong, arched. 

 Petiole sometimes hardly any in upper, up to I'o" in lower leaves. Terminal 

 peduncles often 3-4" long. Spikes l'o-3". Bracts usuallj" pubescent beneath and 

 ciliate, but an eciliate variety .occurs, lower sometimes interrupted and 1"5 ' long 

 but usually' all imbricate, often whitish between the green nerves. Calyx •25". 

 Corolla-tube pubescent, anthers sub-included. 



3. D. montanus, T. Anders. 



An undershrub 2-3 ft. high with 4-angular branches usually closely 

 puberulous and glandular upwards (white-hairy, Clarice). Leaves 

 broadly ovate or ovate, shoi-tly acuminate, 2-5" long, decurrent on the 

 petiole from a broad base, minutely pubescent on the nerves beneath. 

 Flowers blue-purple or often almost slate-coloured, in numerous linear 

 spikes 3-4" long, solitary lateral and frequently in terminal panicles. 

 Whole inflorescence densely covered with stalked viscid glands with 

 a strong aromatic smell. Bracts linear or linear-lanceolate "o-G", 

 bracteoles linear about half as long. Corolla-tube 1'2" long, limb 1" 

 diam. Capsule -5-1". Seeds 1" long, round- elliptic, brown, margined. 



Chota Nagpur, rare. Tongo (Ranchi), Bresserl Puri jungles! Narsingpur! 

 Fl., Fr. Oct.-March. 



Easilj^ distinguished from the other wild species by the very narrow laxer spikes 

 and bracts and the aromatic glands. Clarke {F.B.I.) states that it is very variable. 



15. MICRANTHUS, Wendl 

 (Phaylopsis, Willd.) 

 Perennial herbs with opp. entire or obscurely crenate leaves and 

 small flowers in dense terminal secund spikes consisting of pairs of 

 imbricate bracts with a sessile cyme or cluster of 3-4 flowers between 

 each pair ; bracteoles 0. Sepals 5, one large ovate, nerved ; the 

 others smaller, narrow. Corolla with slender tube, lobes 5 slightly 

 unequal, rounded, contorted in biid. Stamens didynamous, anther- 

 cells 2 parallel shortly oblong, minutely mucronate at base. Style 

 long haiiy, upper lobe of stigma small or rudimentaiy. Ovules 2 in 



680 



