2. BouaAiNviLLEAr lO", . yYCIACriyACE.^. 



conspicuous by each, or clusters of three, being supported by an 

 involucre of 3 usually brilliantly coloured large bracts: when fls. 3-nate 

 midrib of bract adnate to the pedicel, bract persistent and acting 

 as a \ring to the fruit. Perianth tubular with a spreading but small 

 5-lobed limb and a somewhat wider basal part which hardens into 

 the leathery wall of the achene (nut or anthocarp), while the upper 

 part becomes spirally rolled. Stamens 5-10, very unequal, scarcely 

 exsert. Stigma linear. Cotyledons somewhat unequal. 



A South American eenus of which several varieties are now common in Indian 

 gardens. 



1. B. spectabilis, WiUd. 



Branehlets and leaves both sides pubescent. Leaves orbicular- 

 ovate acuminate. Flowers and bracts ternate at the ends of every 

 branchlet and forming immense panicles of a deep magenta colour. 

 Perianth greenish-yellow. 



This and the next are the commones: BonpainrUlea found in nearly every lar^ 

 Indian garden and oi:en climoirs: over tali trees. Fl. Feb.-April. 



2. B. glabra, DC. 



Branches and leaves glabrous, spines shorter. Leaves lanceolate. 

 Bracts of a less deep magenta, sometimes said to be pale-pink. It 

 flowers two or three times in the year. 



Horticultural catalogues also distingTiish l>etween B. lateritia with brick-red 

 flowers and B. fvlenieiii with pinky-purple flowers. These are not entered m the 

 Kew Index and appear to be merely garden varieties of B. tpecfabilit. 



3. MIRABILIS, L. 



Herbs often with tuberous roots and m.s. or somewhat large flowers 

 clustered on the branches of large leafy panicles, each or clusters of 

 2-10 surrounded by a calvx-like involucre of -t-o connate bracts. 

 Perianth brightly coloured, salver-shaped to campanulate. Stamens 

 3-5, rarely 0, somewhat exserted. Xut elUpsoid or ob-pyramidal, 

 often ribbed or rugose. Cotyledons large suborbicular on germina- 

 tion. 



Chiefly Centra'. American plants, or if the genus Oxyhap\u» Ije included, then 

 one Himaiayan species. 



1. M. jalapa, L. Marvel of Peru; Four o'clock Plant. 



A well-known herbaceous plant 1-2-5 feet high with large perennial 

 tuberous roots, rather fleshy stems and cordate leaves. Flowers 

 usually purple but very numerous colours are found and the perianth 

 is sometimes variegated. There is only one flower to the involucre in 

 this species, which latter therefore is apt to be mistaken for a calyx. 



Very common and often spontaneous in Indian gardens. 



2. M. longiflora, L. Sweet-scented Marvel of Pern, has wliice flowers with a very 



slender tube over 3'' long. 



4. BOERHAAVIA, L. 



Herbs with opposite leaves and small or minute flowers jointed on 

 their pedicels, capitate, umbelled or panided. Bracts small, rarely 



756 



