152. DI08C0REACE.E. [1. Dioscorea. 



more, smaller upwards, always alternate where I have noted them, sometimes 

 opposite according to F.B.I., costse 7-11, with very distinct scalariform cross- 

 nerviiles, sinus usually very wide, sometimes shallow. Petiole as long as or 

 usually much shorter than blade. Male buds ovoid, fls. •06--1" long or more, 

 variable, petals narrower than the sepals, more tapering. St. very small, 6 perfect, 

 not ith as long as petals. Bract half to Jths as long as flower with filiform acumen. 

 Seeds with an oblong wing above. 



The rhizomes are said to be very acrid, but sometimes eaten in times of famine 

 after much preparation. They lie quite close to the surface. 



9. D. dsemona, Boxh. Kolo, S. ; Taina, Ghatw. ; Baichandi (in Cent. 

 Prov.). 

 A strong twiner with stems often -25" diam. with few small weak 

 prickles, young tomentose. Leaves large 3-foIiolate, long-petioled, 

 Iflts. of lower leaves often 8" by 4", and attaining 12" by 6", central one 

 elliptic or obovate suddenly acuminate 3-5-costate, or those on the 

 flowering branches only 2 • 5" by 1 ■ 4" with rounded suddenly apiculate 

 apex, lateral leaflets very oblique; petiolules of lower Iflts. -5- -75" 

 pubescent. Male fls. in very dense short-oblong spikes •25-- 3" long 

 in long narroAv axillary pubescent panicles 6-8" long. Fem. spikes 

 usually 2-nate, simple pubescent or tomentose, 8-12" long. Capsule 

 large oblong 1-5-1 -75" long and •7-- 8" broad. 



Purneah ! Santal Parg. ! Hazaribagh (Koderma Forest) ! Manbhum, Ca/w;).! 

 Angul ! Sambalpur ! Probably in all the damper forests. Fl. June- July. Fr. 

 Aug. -Sept. 



Tuber subglobose or irregular, up to 12" diam., marked with eyes and covered 

 with root-fibres. Petioles of lower leaves 6-12", those on the branchlets exceeding 

 the leaflets. L. more or less permanently pubescent on the nerves. M. pedicels 

 of spikes pubescent ; bracts under the fls. very small, orbicular with broad base, 

 concave, pubescent, -05- -06" diam. Petals oblong-obovate incurved, -04- -05" 

 long, and about twice as long as the rounded membranous sepals. Anthers 6 

 perfect, minute, globose-oblong, filaments hardly any. Fem. bracts lanceolate 

 •1--12" long. Ovary tomentose oblong -15" rapidly enlarging. 



According to Roxburgh the root is dreadfully nauseous even after boiling, and 

 according to the Gonds it is sometimes eaten after frequent washings, while it is 

 also said to be made up into sweetmeats in the Central Provinces (possibly tluough 

 confusion with pentaphylla ?). 



10. D. tomentosa, Heyne. 



Stems and leaves beneath with a matted tomentum and leaves 

 thinly tomentose or hairy above. Leaflets 3 or 5-6, central obovate 

 or elliptic, shortly cuspidate or shortly caudate, 2 -5-4 -5" long, lateral 

 very gibbous at the base, sec. n. 2-3 each side. Petioles up to 4", 

 petiolules -1". Inflorescence white-tomentose. Bracts -06" long. 

 Male fls. -06" on pedicels -02- -04" long in panicled usually ternate 

 spikes -7-1" long. Female racemes sometimes simple up to 8" long 

 or with branches 3-5" long. Capsules at first tomentose, finally 

 glabrous, somewhat cuneately oblong -8" by -4" or sometimes fths 

 as broad as long. 



Angul, Lace ! 



The stems are more or less prickly and hairy. Upper leaves sometimes 2-foliolate, 

 2-3-lobed or entire. It is doubtful whether this species is more than a variety of 

 D. pentaphylla, but it is chiefly South Indian. 



11. D. pentaphylla, L. Baiom-sanga, Itulad-sanga, K. ; Haseor, 21.: 

 Khania-kanda, Kharw. ; Karba, Koraba-alu, Or. ; Kanta-alu, Beng. 



A much more slender climber than D. dcemona, more or less prickly 



72 1123 



