104. ACANTHACE.E. [20. Neuracanthus. 



18. CROSSANDRA, Salisb. 



Undershrubs Avith entire or vmdulate siibdentate leaves and orange 

 or yellow niod.-sized flowers in linear-oblong- sjjikes with imbricate 

 bracts. Bracteoles linear. Sepals 5 ovate, 2 inner smaller. Corolla 

 with narrow tube curved at the mouth, limb with 5 subequal elliptic 

 lobes imbricate in bvid. Stamens didynaraous, all with 1-celied 

 anthers, connective mucronate. Stigma minutely 2-lobed. Ovules 2 

 in each cell. Capsule oblong. Seeds 4, orbicular compressed, 

 adpressedly scaly, the scales consisting of connate hairs, the tips of 

 which become free when moistened. 



1. C. undulaefolia, Salish. Syn. C. infundibuliformis, Nees. 



A small shrub 1-3 ft. high with ovate or lanceolate undulate leaves 

 3-4" long, tapering both ends, and pubescent spikes 1-4" long of 

 orange or orange-scai'let flowers. Bracts '5" elliptic acute. Sepals 

 imbricate, outer "3". Corolla-tube slender, 75", lobes "S". 

 Common in gardens aiid sometimes self-seeding. Native of India, Fl. r.s. 



19. ERANTHEMUM, L. 



Glabrous shrvibs or undershrubs with entire rarely serrate leaves 

 and rather small or mod.-sized floAvers situated 1-3 together in the 

 axils of opposite bi'acts of terminal spikes. Bracts and bracteoles 

 small and narrow. Calyx 5-fid or -partite, segments narrow. Corolla- 

 tube linear, rarely ventricose at the throat, lobes 5, sub-equal. 

 Stamens 2 with perfect 2-celled anthers, cells equal, parallel ; 2 stami- 

 nodes usually present. Stigma entire or minutely 2-lobed. Ovules 

 2 in each cell. Capsule and seeds as in Asy stasia. 



The cultivated species have often handsome coloured or variegated leaves. 



1. E. palatiferum, Nees. 



An undershrvib about 3 ft. high, with stems pubescent above. 

 Leaves broadly lanceolate, acuminate, up to 8" long, tapering at base, 

 not or obscurely lineolate, sec. n. 8-10. Petiole '3". Flowers purple, 

 with often a yellowish spot on mid-lobe of loAver lip, secund on 

 branched pubescent racemes often 12" long. Calyx "2" with linear 

 pvibescent sepals. Corolla-tube l"2o-l"3", limb 1-1'25" diam., 

 obscvirely 2-lipped. Capsule -9", piibescent. 



Comes close to our area (Purneah) in the forests of Terai. Fl. April. 



E. bicolor, a species very common in gardens, has broadly lanceolate leaves with 

 a slender petiole up to 1". Corolla white with purple spots on lower lip, tube 1-25", 

 limb 1" diam. Native of Malay Archipelago. 



20. NEURACANTHUS, Nees. 



Perennial herbs or undershrubs wdth entire leaves and small blue 

 flowers in axillary or terminal elongate strobilate or capitate spikes 

 with often strongly-nerved, sometimes 4-ranked elliptic or ovate 

 bracts. Bracteoles or minute. Calyx siib-2-lipped, posterior lip 

 3-toothed, anterior 2-toothed or -partite. Corolla with a short tube, 

 then suddenly ventricose or funnel-shaped, limb plicate 2-lipped with 

 5 sub-similar segments or obscurely lobed. Stamens didynamovis, 

 anterior anthers 2-lobed, posterior 1 -lobed, the other lobe rudimen- 



685 



