370 AMARANTACEAE. [| Achyranthes. 
both kinds oceur in the same inflorescence. The stigma in Forster’s — from Tahiti, 
«bilobum, laciniis albidis laceris», one not agree with ours, nor does the fruit, which 
i i muricate and 3—4" i er’s i m the 
N k sai sumin 
the synonyms to be correct, the species would extend over the So ciety, Gambier, Viti, and 
nica groups, Norfolk and Prata Islands, Australia and Ceylon, probably confined to 
ast region 
Orper LXVIII. -AMARANTACEAE. 
Perianth or calyx scarious, deeply 5—3-parted, the sepals imbricate, 
not enlarging with fruit. Stamens hypogynous, opposite the sepals, often 
alternating with sterile staminodes. Ovary 1-celled. Ovyules erect from 
the base or from free basal funicles, amphitropous, usually single, in one 
tribe several. Fruit generally a utricle which opens transversely or irre- 
gularly. Seeds lenticular, compressed. Embryo excentrical round a mealy 
albumen. — Mostly herbs, but sometimes shrubs or trees, with opposite 
or alternate entire leaves, without stipules. Flowers supported by 3, 
rarely by 2 bracts, in sessile clusters or in spikes. 
A considerable Order, chiefly tropical and American. 
Style — with a eapitate stigma: 
sb rs glabrous; sepals and stamens 5; staminodes prese 1. Achyranthes. 
owers villous 0 selgraeh sepals and stamens 4; stam Soe tbh 2. Nototrichium. 
Plate oe divided into peso branches ; eases 5, connate 
; Stamin dimiisle 
“Powers rs woolly, in si Haple sire shrub 3. Aerva. 
_ Flowers glabrous, in paniculate 1 spikes; trees : 4. Charpentiera. 
oh a 2 
o 
Sr 
utri cle indehiscent 
n general cultivation and occasional escapes from gardens: Amara eat ec 
A. melancholicus, Celosia cristata, the Gackseomt and Gomphrena globosa 
HES, L. 
Flowers needaphrodlts, 3-bracteate. Perianth of 5 unequal segments, 
hardened after flowering. Stamens 5, united into a cup at the base, with 
as many small seales or staminodes between them, Anthers ovoid, 2- -celled. 
Ovule solitary. Style simple, with a capitate stigma. Fruit an indehiscent 
utricle. Seed-coat subcrustaceous. Embryo coiled round albumen. 
Herbs with opposite leaves. Flowers green or scarious, patent or reflexed, 
in terminal spikes or heads. Bracts very acute, the lowest persistent oP 
the rhachis, the lateral ones longer and generally spinescent, approximate 
on the inner side of the flower. 
About 16 sees natives of the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, AUS 
tralia and Polyn 
piri ie Tong ©: 
silky ; sis any lateral bracts as long as the blade 1, A. splendens- 
pubescent or ¢ coments awn of lateral bracts sev eral times : 
t bags blade. 2. A. bidentata. 
— es short, l' or 
3. A, mutica. 
A. aspera, . sags of late appeared in gardens s and is ; likely to oe It nein smaller, 
greenish-silve flowers, which are reflexed at last, and subulate bracteoles. 
