AMARANTUS.] AMAEANTACEM. 13 



up. Roxburgh states that the plant is known only in cultivation, 

 and that it is held in great esteem as a pot-herb by all classes of 

 the natives. A. mangostanus, L. is very probably only a stunted 

 and prostrate form of A. gangeticus, or a feral state of the variety 

 tristis as suggested by Plain. A. polygamus of Roxburgh (now re- 

 garded as a synonym of A. tristis} is described by him as sometimes 

 having the terminal clusters in spikes as in A. gangeticus. 



5. A. viridis, Linn. Sp. PL ed. 2, 1405 ; Poxb. Fl. Ind. Hi, 605 ; 

 F. B. I. iv, 720 ; Watt E. D. ; Comm. Prod. Ind. 63 ; Prain Beng. 

 PL 871 ; Cooke FL Bomb, ii, 490. A. fasciatus, Roxb. L c. 609. 



An erect much-branched glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. high ; branches 

 sulcate, often tinged with purple. Leaves 1-3 in. long, ovate or 

 deltoid-ovate, rounded and usually notched at the apex, the base 

 truncate or cuneate, petioles J-2 in. long. Flowers shortly stalked, 

 pale-green, arranged in small axillary clusters and in slender axillary 

 and terminal panicled spike-like racemes ; bracts shorter than the 

 sepals, ovate-oblong, acute, membranous and with a green keel. 

 Sepals 3, similar to the bracts, but longer. Stamens 3. Fruit in- 

 dehiscent, compressed, suborbicular, acute, rugose. Seeds minute, 

 lenticular, black and shining. 



A common weed in cultivated ground throughout India, flowering during, 

 the rainy and cold seasons. It is widely distributed in all tropical 

 countries, and may be easily recognised by its slender panicled spikes 

 and indehiscent herbaceous fruits. The tender tops are eaten. 

 Roxburgh's A. fasciatiis is regarded as a sport with a pale crescent- 

 shaped band across the leaf. 



6. A. Blitum, Linn. Sp. PL 990 ; F. B. L iv, 721 ; Watt E. D.; 

 Prain Beng. PL 871. 



A glabrous procumbent annual. Leaves small, long-petioled, oblong, 

 ovate or rounded, usually 2-lobed at the apex ; base acute. Flowers 

 in axillary clusters. Sepals 3, shorter than the utricle, linear-oblong 

 or lanceolate, obtuse and apiculate or acute. Stamens 3. Utricle 

 orbicular or broadly ovate, membranous, usually indehiscent. 



A common weed throughout India and in Ceylon, extending to many 

 other countries in temperate and tropical regions. The plant is much 

 used as a pot-herb in India. 



VA.R. oleracea, F. B. I. iv, 721 ; WattE.D. ; Duthie Field and Garden 

 Crops, part in, IS ; Prain Beng. PL 871 ; Cooke FL Bomb, ii, 490. 

 Vern. Chaulai. A tall erect glabrous succulent herb. Stem stout,. 



