Jmarantus.'] amarantace^e. 285 



Hongkong, Hance (a loose specimen with those of A. spinosus). A common tropical and 

 subtropical weed both in the New and the Old World. 



3. ACHYRANTHES, Linn. 



Perianth usually glabrous, of 5 slightly unequal segments, hardened after 

 flowering, with 1 subulate almost spinous bracteole on each side. Stamens 

 5, united in a cup at the base, with as many small scales between them. An- 

 thers 2-celled. Ovule solitary. Style simple, with a capitate stigma. Em- 

 bryo coiled round the albumen. — Herbs. Leaves opposite. Mowers green, 

 or rarely scarious, reflexed, in terminal spikes or rarely heads. 



A tropical or subtropical genus, widely spread over the Old "World, or as introduced weeds 

 in America. 



1. A. aspera, Linn. ; Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. part ii. 314, var. obtusi- 

 folia; Wight, Ic. t. 1777. An erect or spreading annual or biennial, with a 

 hard almost woody base, more or less hoary with a soft pubescence. Leaves 

 shortly stalked, ovate or orbicular, 1 to 1^ in. long, usually in this variety 

 obtuse or very shortly pointed. Flowers of a shining almost silvery green, in 

 long slender terminal spikes. Perianth 1^ to near 2 lines long, closely re- 

 flexed after flowering ; the 2 subulate rigid bracteoles nearly as long, and sca- 

 rious at the base only. 



In waste places, Champion, Hance. A very common and troublesome weed in tropical 

 and subtropical Asia and Africa, and some parts of America. The variety with acuminate 

 leaves {A. argentea, Lam.) correctly restored to the A . aspera by Grisebach, occurs on the 

 Chinese coast, but I have seen no specimens from Hongkong. 



4. CYATHULA, Lour. 



Habit, inflorescence, and flowers of Achyranthes, except that on each pe- 

 dicel, besides 1 or sometimes 2 perfect perianths, there is on each side a 

 cluster of stiff hooked bristles, slightly dilated at the base, consisting of bracts 

 and abortive perianth-segments. 



A small tropical genus, common to the New and the Old World. 



1. C. prostrata, Blume ; Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. part ii. 326. A slen- 

 der perennial, more or less hoary or softly pubescent, procumbent and rooting 

 at the lower nodes, ascending to a foot or more. Leaves very shortly stalked, 

 ovate, obtuse or shortly acuminate, 1 to \\ in. long. Flowers small, green, 

 pubescent, reflexed, on very short pedicels, in long slender terminal racemes. 

 Perianth about 1 \ lines long, the clusters of hooks rather shorter. — Desmo- 

 chata prostrata, DC; Wight, Ic. t. 733. 



On roadsides, Hance, Wilford, Wright. Dispersed over tropical America, Africa, Asia, 

 and the Pacific islands. 



5. ALTERNANTHERA, Br. 



Perianth of 5 nearly equal scarious segments, not enveloped in wool. Sta- 

 mens 5 or sometimes fewer, very shortly united at the base. Anthers 1 -celled. 

 Ovule solitary. Style short or scarcely any, with a capitate stigma. Utricle 

 usually flattened, ovate or obcordate, indehiscent. — Herbs. Leaves opposite. 

 Flowers in sessile axillary or terminal clusters or heads. 



A considerable genus, widely spread over the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. 



