113. ABI8T0L0CHIACEM. [1. Aristolochia. 



1. ARISTOLOCHIA, L. 



Leaves entire or lobed, often with a stipule-like bract in their axils. 

 Perianth-tube inflated at the base, then contracted and above with 

 Si dilated oblique 1-2-lipped limb (very large in some garden species). 

 Anthers 6, rarely 5 or more than (3, column very short, 3-0-lobed 

 above. Capsule septicidally (i-valved or splitting through the pla- 

 centas, thin-walled and the dehiscence frequently carried down into the 

 pedicels which become 6-partite. Seeds flat (in our species) often 

 with the remains of the placenta attached. 



Flowers solitary. Bracts large orbicular :— 



Stems prostrate. Leaves olaucous beueath 1. hracteafa. 



Flowers mostly in 1-many-fld. racemes or clusters. Bracts small : — 



L. linear to panduriform, not deeply cordate, 2-4" long . . .2. indica. 



L. lanceolate to lane. -ovate, deeply cordate, 3-10" long . . .3. tagala. 



1. A. bracteata, Retz. 



.Stems slender, prostrate, 12-18" long with reniform or broadly 

 ovate leaves I'b—Z'b" both ways, cordate at base Avith a broad 

 shallow sinus, glaucous beneath, finely reticulate. Flowers rS-TTS" 

 long (excluding the -2" ovary), solitary, Avith a large orbicular bract 

 at the base of the peduncle. Perianth subglobose at the base, then 

 cylindric with a trumpet-shaped mouth and dark-purple linear lip 

 as long as the tube. Capsule -Q-lb", oblong-ellipsoid, 12-ribbed. 

 Seeds deltoid slightly cordate at base, -25". 



West Behar, Bengal Plants, But there are no specimens either at Kew or 

 Sibpur, and it is possibly recorded on the basis of its general distribution : 

 Bundelkhand, etc. Fl. Aug.-Nov. 



2. A. indica, L. Bal-bolena, Oyidi, Or. ; Isharmal, H. ; Isror (Gaya); 



Gad, S. 

 A glabrous herbaceous or shrubby perennial with a woody root- 

 stock, slender sulcate branches and usually panduriform leaves 

 2-4" by 1-2" Avith acuminate apex and 3-5-nerved base. FloAvers 

 1-15" long, 2-7 in a very short raceme or sub-clustered, Avith 

 lanceolate acuminate bracts -07" long. Perianth globose at the 

 base -25" diam. and slightly G-grooved, then narroAvly tubular for 

 -5--6" and bent nearly at right angles to previous axis, Avith a purple 

 dilated or obliquely trumpet-shaped mouth -3" diam. notched in 

 front and produced obliquely behind into an oblong strap-shaped 

 brown-purple appendage or lip •5-"7" long Avith revolute margins. 

 Capsule subglobose or broadly oblong and narrowed into pedicel, 

 1-1-8" diam. at broadest part, dehiscing from the base, after dehis- 

 cence parachute-like, the dehiscence being continued into the clavate 

 pedicel Avhich divides into (5 strands continuous Avith the midribs of 

 the valves Avhich remain united above. Seeds deltoid or triangular, 

 flat, winged, -03", AAangs membranous. 



In open jungles. Gaya Hills! Manbhum, Kurz (near Raneeganj) ! Santal 

 Parg., Hadett ! Puri, frequent on the sandstones ! Angul ! Mayurbhanj ! Fl. 

 June-Oct. Fr. Nov.-Marcli, but the parachute-like old capsules may be found up 

 to the end of the hot season. Deciduous and sometimes dying back to the root. 



Leaves sometimes vary from linear to obovate. but in our specimens they are 

 always sub-panduriform (constricted above a broad base) and broadest above the 

 middle. Petiole slender •25--5". Pedicels •2-'3" thickened upwards. Hypanthium 



785 



