4. DiGERA.] 108. AMARANTACEJB. 



4. DIGERA, Forsk. 



An annual herb with alternate leaves and small flowers in spikes, 

 or in reality very contracted panicles, each bract bearing in its axil 

 a flower and 2 bracteoles and the bracteoles again mostly bearing an 

 abortive flower in their axil. Tepals 4-5, outer larger 5-9-nerved, 

 inner 2-4-nerved. Stamens 5, rarely 4, free or scarcely connate at 

 the base, anthers 2-celled. Ovary broadlj^ oblong truncate, style 

 filiform with 2 short recurved stigmas. Ovule erect. Fruit hardened. 

 Seed globose with thin crustaceous testa adhering to the albumen. 

 Embryo annular, cotyledons linear. 



1. D. alternifolia, Aschers. Syn. D. arvensis, Forsk. ; Achyranthes 

 alternifolia, L. ; Kari-gandhari, *S^. 

 An erect or prostrate herb 1-2 ft. high with glabrous or very thinly 

 minutely hairy branches. Leaves mostly ovate or elliptic or some 

 lanceolate 1-2", rarely 3", obtuse or acute rather pale and somewhat 

 ciliolate on the nerves beneath. Spikes of small pink flowers axillary, 

 slender, becoming rather lax in fruit, 1-5" long, long-peduncled. 

 Bracts boat-shaped, -07- -08" long, bracteoles nearly as long, keeled. 

 Outer 2 tepals covering the rest, lanceolate-oblong acute, "13- •15" 

 long. Nut -075" diam., globose, slightly compressed, rugulose, falling 

 with the perianth and bracteoles together with the accrescent abortive 

 florets, but leaving the somewhat reflexed bracts. 



A common weed in Singbhum ! and Manbhum, Camp. ! Possibly in all districts. 

 Fl., Fr. r.s. 



Leaves variable in shape and often with very small ones on the lower part of the 

 stern or from the axils of the larger ; sec. n. 6-9, distinct beneath, arched, usually 

 2 from base. Petiole slender somewhat hairy 'o-'J,". The abortive flowers are 

 small rather fleshy 2-fid scales during the flowering period, they then increase in 

 size, become bifurcate with each branch again forked or toothed, and then attain 

 •1". It is in this state that they have been described as " crested scales." 



The plant is used as a pot-herb. 



5. AMARANTUS, L. 



Annual herbs, sometimes spinous, Avith alternate leaves and green 

 or red small 1 -sexual flowers in clusters which may be axillary or in 

 erect or drooping, sometimes panicled spikes. Tepals 5 or 1-3. 

 Stamens 1-5, free, anthers 2-celled. Ovary compressed, stj'le short 

 or 0, stigmas 2-3 filiform or subulate. Ovule 1 erect. Utricle com- 

 pressed indehiscent or circumsciss, tip sometimes 2-3-toothed. Seed 

 orbicular, compressed, testa crustaceous. Embryo annular with 

 linear cotyledons. 



1. Spinous. Tepals of M. acuminate, of F. obtuse apiculate . I. fpinotus. 

 II. Unarmed. Tepals of M. and F. usually similar: — 



A. Flowers 5-merous. Styles 2-3. Utricle circumsciss : — 



1. Bracts longer than the tepals : — 



L. acute or acuminate. Tepals oblong-lanceolate, 



acuminate 2. paniculatus. 



L. with obtuse tip. Tepals obovate-mucronate . . 3. caudatus, 



2. Tepals longer than the bracts : — 



L. obtuse or emarginate. Tepals acute or subaristate 4. giganteus. 



B. Flowers 2-.i-merous: — 



1. Bracts and tepals awned, longer than the circumsciss 

 utricle :— 



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