35 2 The Flowering Plants of Western India. 



3 each, and sometimes 3 stami nodes ; anthers sagittate, ovary 

 free, style trifid. 



Another very small order ; in the only species occurring in W. India 

 the scape of flowers bursts from the sheath of the leaves. 



XYEIS, characters of the order. 



X. Indica. A small smooth rush-like plant, leaves linear, 

 sword-shaped, all radical, the round scape bursting from the 

 sheath of the leaf, and bearing an oval head of yellow flowers, 

 each with a broad ovate convex brown bract, anthers twin. 

 Alu. 



Malwan. Salt marshes in S. Konkan, near Rairee fort (D.). 

 Various parts of India (H.~). I noted that the spathe and scape 

 were light-yellow. 



The natives of Bengal consider this plant a certain cure for ring- 

 worm (R.). 



ORDER 120. COMMELINACE^. The Spiderwort Family. 



Herbs, with flat narrow leaves sheathing at the base, 

 perianth inferior 6-divided, the 3 outer segments herbaceous 

 green, the three inner petaloid, coloured ; stamens 6 on the 

 base of the perianth, some of them sometimes reduced to 

 staminodes ; filaments often bearded, ovary free, capsule 2 or 3- 

 valved. 



Owing to the different colouring of the outer and inner sepals, the 

 flowers of this order seem to have a more distinct calyx and corolla than 

 most monochlamyds. This and the growth of the flowers (generally 

 blue) from large bracts, or from the sheaths of the leaves, make the 

 order tolerably easy of identification. Two or three spiderworts are 

 well known in English gardens. 



1. COMMELINA. Flowers in cymes included in a terminal 

 spathe ; petals larger than the sepals, one or more often clawed, 

 stamens 3 perfect, with 2 or 3 staminodes. 



2. ANEILEMA. Flowers in axillary and terminal panicles, 

 with bracts but not spathes, stamens 2 or 3 with 3 or 4 

 staminodes. 



3. CYANOTJS. Usually prostrate or creeping ; flowers in 

 cymes, usually almost covered by large leafy imbricating bracts ; 

 limb of the petal roundish, stamens 6, all perfect, capsule 3-celled. 



1. COMMELINA. 



1. (7. nudiflora^ (C. communis, D.). Stem creeping, jointed, 

 branchlets with a line of hairs, leaves sessile, sheathing, ovate 



