145. LILIACE^. [3. DKACiENA. 



leafless. Bracts as long as the • 07- • 09" pedicels (they are much shorter in ordinary 

 racp.mosus). Puri ! 



I find that the seedling from the very commencement only shows scale-leaves 

 and cladodes. There are no normal leaves. 



A decoction of the root is used medicinally by the Tharus and also given in 

 fever by the Santals. 



2. A. acerosus, Roxb. 



A slender scrambling or scandent suffruticose perennial similar to 

 A. racemosus but mth very much stronger cladodes often 2-5" long, 

 3-6-nate, triquetrous, acuminate, many times longer than the slightly 

 recurved spines. Racemes shorter than the cladodes, 1-1-5", bracts 

 lanceolate concave. Flowers pure white, fragrant. 



Karagolah ghat, Purneah, Clarke ! Fl. May. Also in the Duars. 



It appears to pass into states of racemosus. 



3. A. gracilis, Royle. 



An erect very graceful plant about 4 ft. high with feathery branches 

 and small white star-like flowers -2" diam. in lax racemes. Cladodes 

 straight terete acicular in clusters of 6-9, -25- -4" long. 



Forests near Xeterhat. Elev. 2500-3000 ft. New shoots and flowers in May. 

 Fr. Oct. -Nov. 



Stems and branches terete polished. Bract leaves scarious. The blade -05- 

 0"7", acuminate, somewhat hastate at base and with a spiu: as long as the blade ; 

 spur somewhat hardened but never developing as a spine. Bracts and bracteole-, 

 at base of pedicel? similar. Flowers distant solitary and scattered along, or some- 

 times 2-3-nate on the top of, special flowering branches (racemes) 1-2-5" long, 

 which sometimes terminate ordinary leafy shoots or are lateral and bare except 

 for the bracts. Pedicels -I-'IS" jointed near the base. Tepals -1" oblong with 

 roimded tip. Fil. -07" subulate flattened membranous. Fruit subsolitary red 

 "2" diam. 



3. DRAC^NA, L. 



Shrubs or trees with alternate or crowded and subterminal, sessile 

 or petioled leaves, either with strong costse or many fine parallel 

 nerves. Flowers rather small for the size of the plants, in terminal 

 racemes, panicles or heads with small bracts. Perianth tubular, 

 campanulate or funnel-shaped, 0-cleft, lobes narrow. Stamens 6, 

 inserted at the base of the tube, filaments fihform or flattened, anthers 

 versatile. Ovary 3-celled with filiform style and capitate stigma. 

 Ovule 1 in each cell, erect. Fruit baccate, globose didymous or 

 3-lobed. Seeds globose or angled, testa thickish, albumen horny. 

 Embryo small. 



A number of beautiful species of Draccena are cultivated in Indian gardens and 

 in verandahs. They have mostly more or less lanceolate or sword-shaped leaves 

 which are often brilliantly coloiued, especiaUy at the back. They are usually 

 known as Dragon-plants. 



The following are Avild species : 



L. elliptic or eU.-lanceolate, 5-10". Raceme simple . . . 1. terniflora. 

 L. linear or ensiform, 8-20". Panicle large . . . .2. angustifolia. 



1. D. terniflora, Roxb. 



Shrubby 2-4 ft. high with elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate very broadly 

 petioled leaves 6" by 2" to 10" by 3" or (in the Augul plant) more 



1089 



