474 cix. ACANTHACE^I. (C. B. Clarke.) [Strobilanikes. 



138. S. sexennis, Nees in DC. Prodr. xi. 187; leaves sessile elliptic 

 attenuate at each end denticulate nearly glabrous, bracts sessile ovate base 

 rounded or subcordate glandular-hairy or glabrate, corolla 1 in. glabrous. 

 T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. Sac. ix. 483. S. interruptus, Benth. in PI. 

 Hohenack. n. 1432. 



CEYLON; Walker, Thivaites, C. P. n. 2593. NILGHEEEY MTS.; on Dodabetta, 

 Hohenacker. 



A shrub, flowering at 6 or 7 years old, then dying down. Branches subquadran- 

 gular, glabrous, transversely verrucose. Leaves 3 by 1 in. ; nerves 5-6 pair ; petiole 

 winged, base dilated. Bracts | by %- in., glabrous or hairy on the same spike ; 

 bracteoles ^ in., oblong obtuse. Calyx divided subequally nearly to the base ; seg- 

 ments linear-oblong, hairy at least at the tips. Corolla white (Beddome). Capsule 

 | in., glabrous, 2-seeded. Described from Nees' type specimen; the specimen iu leaf 

 only which he adds has very large many-nerved leaves very woolly when young, and 

 is a gregarious undershrub well known to Col. Beddome in Ceylon, of which the 

 flower has not yet been observed. 



VAE. arguta ; leaves distinctly dentate sometimes slightly hairy, petiole (even in 

 the leaves near the spikes) usually well defined sometimes 1-2 in. not dilated at the 

 base, spikes often elongate secund sometimes dense. S. argutus, Nees in DC. Prodr. 

 xi. 188. Ceylon, frequent ; G-ardner, Thwaites, C. P. 66 partly, &c. Appears a 

 trifling variety. 



VAE. cerinthoides ; leaves sessile elliptic or oblong narrowed suddenly at the very 

 base subentire coriaceous few-nerved. S. cerinthoides, Nees in DC. Prodr. xi. 724; 

 T. Anders, in Thwaites jEnum. 229. Mackeuziea sessilis, Nees in DC. Prodr. xi. 308. 

 Ceylon; Thwaites (C. P. nn. 2594, 66 partly), Mackenzie, &c. The type of this 

 with nearly all the leaves subsessile rounded at the base seems to form a distinct species, 

 but there are examples wherein the lower leaves are cuneate at the base. The flowers 

 are noted white with much purple marking. 



VAE. hirsutissima ; stem and leaves hirsute. S. hirsutissimus, Nees in DC. 

 Prodr. xi. 187. Ceylon; Walker, Thwaites (C. P. n. 3626), &c. 



139. S. homotropus, Nees in DC. Prodr. xi. 187; leaves oblong or 

 elliptic long attenuate at the base glabrous, spikes very hairy flexnose 

 or somewhat twisted, bracts elliptic or subovate narrowed at the base, 

 corolla 1 iu. nearly glabrous. S. sexennis, Bedd. Ic. PI. 2nd. Or. t. 206, not 

 of Nees. 



NILGHEBEY MTS., alt. 8000 ft. ; Wight, &c. 



This has been treated as a var. of S. sexennis, but the bracts are quite unlike. 



140. S. violaceus, Bedd. Ic. PI. Ind. Or. t. 205 ; leaves large petioled 

 ovate hairy on both surfaces, bracts elliptic or oblong much shorter than 

 the calyx, corolla \\ in. glabrous without deep violet. 



NILGHEEEY MTS. ; Sisparah, alt. 6000 ft., Beddome. 



A large shrub, very rarely flowering (Beddome) ; branches quadrangular, hairy 

 upwards. Leaves 6^ by 3| in., shortly acuminate at both ends, crenulate ; nerves 

 14 pair; petiole 1-2 in. Panicles 6-10 in., lax, hairy ; bracts ^ in. ; bracteoles in., 

 oblong hairy. Calyx divided nearly to the base, less hairy than the bracteoles ; seg- 

 ments \ in., narrowly oblong, obtuse. Corolla nearly straight, urceolate, very hairy 

 within ; constricted base short ; segments short, rounded. Capsule not seen. 



141. S. gracilis, Bedd. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxv. 222, and Ic. PI. Ind. 

 Or. t. 207, not of T. Anders. ; leaves sessile lanceolate attenuate at both 

 ends glabrous, panicle glabrous, bracts oblong much shorter than the calyx, 

 bracteoles 0, corolla 1 in. white lilac tinged. S. Beddomei, T. Anders, in 

 Journ. Linn. Soc. ix. 482. 



ANAMALLAY MTS., alt. 5-6000 ft.; Beddome. 



