108. AMARANTACEjE. [5. Amarantu^. 



Var. a. tristis. Syn. A. tristis, L. 



Erect very ramous near the ground. L. rhomb.-oval, emarginate. Clusters^ 

 axillary and in terminal spikes. Tepals subulate, ending in an awled joint, longer 

 than the utricle. . . -r. im. r 



Annual, cultivated and held in great esteem by the natives. It differs from 

 oleraceug in having long diffuse branches from the base. It may be cut several 

 times while oleraceus only yields one crop. Eoxburgh. 



Var. (3. lividus. Syn. A. lividus, Roxb. ; Gobura-nati, Beng. 



Erect smooth, simple, 2-3 ft. L. sub-ovate, retuse. Clusters axillary and in a 

 terminal spike. Tepals 3-5, obtuse, shorter than the round compressed utricles. 



I doubt this being a variety of A. gangeticu^. The short obtuse tepals are quite 

 different. 



Var. y. oleraceus. Syn. A. oleraceus, Roocb., ixotL. ; Sada-natia, Beng. 



Erect with a few branches above the middle. L. from broad-rhomboidal to 

 ovate-lanceolate. Clusters axillary and on a terminal spike. Tepals cuspidate 

 and rather longer than the rugose utricles. 



Roxburgh enumerates a red and a white variety of this and also a variety which 

 he says is Konig's A. giganteiis 5-8 ft. high and as thick as a man's wrist (see- 

 species i) . 



Var. d. tricolor. Syn. A. tricolor, Willd. 



L. variously coloured, rhomb. -lanceolate. Clusters axillary, half amplexicaul.. 

 Tepals cuspidate, longer than the utricles. FL, Fr. whole year. 



Var. f. melancholicus. Syn. A. melancholichus, Willd. 



Erect, mmous, 0-12 ft. high. L. remote, rhomb.-ovate, coloured. Fl. and Fr. 

 of last. 



Var. Z,. polygamus. Syn. A. polygamus, Roxb., non X. ; Chamli sag^. 

 H. ; Champa natia, Beng. 

 Diffuse or erect in good soil. L. rhomb.-ovate emarginate. This is possibly 

 A. mungosfanus {q.v.). 



6. A. mangostanus, L. Syn. A. polygamus, Roxb. ? 



Diffuse with rhomboid often very small leaves •25-1-7", tapering; 

 at the base, rarely attaining 2-3", obtuse, sec. n. about 6. Petiole- 

 slender, as long as blade. Clusters of flowers all down the stem, 

 rarely forming a feeble terminal spike. 



B.?iTie\u, Clarke I Gya, ISTusker I , r ■ ^- .■ . ■ -. r 



Fresh plant all green according to Clarke. It is very distinct in its general 



habit and appearance. Bracts awned. Tepals lanceolate awned, longer than the 



utricle. 



7. A. viridis, L. Jangli-chaurai, H. ; Huring lepera a :, A'. 



A slender herb 1-2 ft. with somewhat the habit of A. spinosus, 

 green, glabrous. Leaves ovate, rhombic-ovate or rhomboid, •7-3-5", 

 but usually 1-2 5", with base somewhat decurrent on the slender 

 petiole. Flowers very minute in spikes 2-3" long and •2--3" broad, 

 often few and distinct on the panicle, in other cases fairly numerous 

 and forming a denser panicle. Tepals 2-3 linear to oblanceolate 

 (ovate-oblong, F.B.I.), hyaline with a green keel not at all aristate, 

 mostly quite muticous, •05--06" long and bracts even shorter. Utricle 

 very rugose, •06--07" long, acute, indehiscent. 



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