PHYLLANTHUS. 



bruised herbage and seed a specific against diabetes, according to Mar- 

 tius ; who says it is called Erva Pombinha in Brazil. 



354. P. urinaria Linn. sp. pi. 1393. Roxb.fi. ind. iii. 660. 

 Herba maeroris rubra Humph, vi. t. 17 f. 1. Tsjeru Kirganeli 

 Rheede x. t. 16. Common in India, growing under the shade 

 of trees. 



Young plants of a deep dull dark red colour. Leaflets linear-oblong. 

 Flowers all sessile. Capsule scabrous, 3-celled, 6-valved. Otherwise 

 like P. Niruri. A powerful diuretic. 



355. P. simplex Retz. obs. v. 29. Roxb.fi. ind. iii. 654 



Dry cultivated ground in the East Indies. 



Root frequently perennial. Stem somewhat woody. Branches 

 numerous, diverging from the base of the little stem, spreading closely 

 to the earth, with their apices ascending, many times longer than the 

 stem, striated from the insertions of the leaves, which gives them a 

 compressed appearance. Leaves simple, alternate, spreading, bifarious, 

 sessile, linear-lanceolate, smooth, entire; about f inch long, and j 

 broad. Stipules 2, obliquely cordate, withering. Flowers, male and 

 female mixed, axillary, generally from 1 to 3 of each. Females long- 

 stalked. Males nearly sessile. Three distinct filaments united at the base. 

 Disk of the female with 12 notches. Fresh leaves, flowers and fruit 

 mixed with equal parts of cumin seeds and sugar and made into an 

 electuary are administered by the natives of India, in doses of a tea- 

 spoonful a day in cases of gonorrhoea. Fresh leaves bruised and mixed 

 with buttermilk make a wash to cure the itch in children. Roxb. 



356. P. virosus Willd. sp.pl. iv.578. Roxb.fi. ind. iii. 659 



Forests and mountains of India. 



Trunk erect. Branches numerous, ascending ; branchlets bifarious. 

 Leaves simple, alternate, bifarious, short-petioled, oval, entire, smooth, 

 1-2 inches long, and from ^ to 1 inch broad. Stipules minute. 

 Flowers very small, dioecious, axillary, crowded, short-stalked, when in 

 flower erect. . Calyx 5-leaved ; sepals oblong, concave. Disk 5 

 yellow glands surrounding the base of the style and alternating with 5, 

 spreading filaments. Pistil a style-like column with a stellate top. 

 . Calyx as in the male. Disk a 5-sided ring surrounding the 

 base of the ovary. Styles 3. Stigma 2-cleft. Berry the size of a pea, 

 covered with a white, fleshy pulp, 3-celled. Seeds 2 in each cell. 

 Bark a strong astringent, intoxicating fish when thrown into water. 



CLUYTIA. 



Flowers dioecious. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5. $ . Stamens 5, 

 united into the stalk of an abortive pistil. $ . Styles 3, bifid. 

 Capsule 3-celled, 3-seeded. A. de J. 



357. C. collina Roxb. corom. ii. 36. t. \6Q.fi. ind. iii. 733. 

 Hilly parts of the Circars of India. 



Leaves alternate, short-stalked, bifarious, the smaller ones orbicular, 

 the larger obovate, entire, smooth, shining. Stipules small, acute, 

 hairy, deciduous. Flowers short-stalked, middle sized, green, monoe- 

 cious, intermingled or separate, or dioecious, axillary. Bracts several, 



177 N 



