8. AcHTRANTHES.] lOS. AMARANTACE^. 



the next species. Whether it is really a variety or the differences 

 only the result of its forest habitat is uncertain. 



The leaves are eaten as a "sag" (pot-herb) when young. The ashes contain 

 much potash. The plant is given in renal disorders. 



3. A. bidentata, Blume. 



A rambling herb distinguished from A. aspera (of which it appears 

 to me to be merely a variety) by the blade of the spinous bracteoles 

 being reduced to two minute auricles each side of the base of the 

 spines, by the leaves being often much narrower elliptic to linear- 

 lanceolate and glabrous or pubescent. The staminodes also are said 

 to be toothed instead of fringed as in A. aspera. 



Chiefly a hill plant. Parasnath, Thomson ! But I have also seen it in the Duars 

 and it may be in Purneah. 



L. (cf Parasnath specimen) narrowly elliptic acuminate up to 5'5" long, thinly 

 shortly hairy. Auricles of bracteole distinct. 



9. ALTERNANTHERA, Forsl: 



Herbs, usually prostrate, with opposite entire or denticulate leaves 

 and small white dowers in axillary often clustered heads. Tepals 

 unequal, anterior and 2 posterior flattened, 2 lateral, innermost, 

 concave. Stamens 2-5, filaments short, connate into a short cup 

 with or without alternating staminodes ; anthers 1 -celled. Ovary 

 with subsessile capitellate, rarely 2-fid, stigma. Ovule pendulous 

 from a long basal funicle. Utricle compressed, ovoid, orbicular or 

 obcordate, margins often winged or thickened. Seed inverse, lenti- 

 cular with coriaceous testa.- Embryo annular with narrow cotyledons. 



1. A. sessilis, Br. Garundi arak', -S'. 



A prostrate and rooting much branched herb, or sometimes sub- 

 scandent among bushes and 3-4 ft. high, youngest branches with 

 2 lines of pubescence. Leaves narrow elliptic, linear-oblong, oblong- 

 lanceolate or sometimes rhomboid -5-2", rarely in the damper 

 districts up to 3", sometimes denticulate, obtuse or rounded or in the 

 rhomboid leaves acute. Clusters of flowers white or pinkish, the 

 flowers when open up to -V diam. pink at base and pearly white 

 above. Tepals 1 -nerved, glabrous, rigid, acute or very acute. 

 Stamens 5 (always ?), of which 2-3 only or sometimes 5 are anther- 

 bearing. Utricle compressed •1--12" diam. obcordate with thickened 

 margin. 



In wet places. Purneah! Singbhum ! Palamau! Manbhum, Cam;;. Fl., Fr. 

 July- Jan. 



Leaves narrowed at base into a short petiole. Nodes hairy, sometimes slightly 

 hairj- both sides, often rather fleshy, the larger-leaved form only seen in Purneah. 

 Spikes or clusters ■25-'3" long, rhachis and base of flowers woolly, and in th& 

 large-leaved form (possibly a distinct species) the sepals are hairy. 



The leaves are eaten as a pot-herb. 



FAM. 109. CHENOPODIACE^. 



Herbs or shrubs often fleshy with simple alternate mostly entire 

 exstipulate leaves, and small, often dimorphic 1-2-sexual flowers. 

 Bracts occasionally absent. Perianth herbaceous or membranous, 



768 



