14 AMARANTACEJE. [AMABANTQS. 



grooved and striate. Leaves l-|-2-| in. long, ovate-oblong or rounded, 

 usually notched at the apex ; base ouneate ; nerves prominent 

 beneath ; petioles 1-2J in, long. Flowers in axillary clusters and in 

 terminal simple or branched spikes ; bracteoles shorter than sepals. 

 Sepals 3, linear-oblong, obtuse or acute. Stamens 3. Utricle T ^ in. 

 long, broadly ovate and with a blunt apex ; styles 3, very short. 

 Seeds lenticular, dark-brown and shining. Cultivated throughout 

 India and in Ceylon. Thejeaves are extensively used as a pot-herb, 

 and in the submontane tracts of Garhwal and Kumaon ; this plant 

 is grown also for its grain, and the parched seeds are either eaten with 

 milk or mixed with sugar and made up into sweetmeat balls (ladus}. 



7. A. polygamus, Linn. Amcen. Acad. iv, 294 ; Royle, 111. 321 ; 

 F. B. I. iv, 721 ; Watt E. D. ; Comm. Prod. Ind. 63 ; Prain Beng. 

 PL 871 ; Cooke Fl. Bomb, H 9 491. A. polygonoides, Willd. ; Roxb. 

 Fl. Ind. Hi, 602 ; Royle I. c. 



A diminutive annual glabrous weed. Stems prostrate or ascending, 

 striate. Leaves |-1 in. long, obovate, obtuse, rarely retuse or some- 

 what 2-lobed at the apex, often rigid and apiculate, base tapering ; 

 petioles J-J in. long. Flowers few, in axillary clusters ; bracteoles 

 membranous, shorter than the sepals, lanceolate-oblong, slightly 

 awned, mid-nerve prominent. Perianth -gViV i* 1 - l n g- Sepals 3, 

 ovate- oblong, awned. Stamens 3. Fruit ovoid, rugose, tapering up- 

 wards, usually circumscissile ; styles 3, distinct. Seeds lenticular, 

 black and shining. 



A common weed in gardens and cultivated land throughout India and 

 in Ceylon, extending to Trop. Africa. Though not cultivated, this 

 plant is largely used in India as a pot-herb, and is considered to be 

 very wholesome. It is closely allied to A. Blitum. 



8. A, tenuilolius, W Hid. Sp. PL iv, 381 ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. Hi, 

 602 ; F. B. 1. iv, 722 ; Watt E. D. ; Prain Beng. PI. 871 ; Cooke 

 Fl Bomb, ii, 491. 



A glabrous annual weed ; branches many from the root, 6-18 in. 

 spreading, prostrate or ascending. Leaves J-l in. long, linear or 

 oblanceolate-oblong, rounded and usually notched at the apex, base 

 tapering ; petioles J-J in. long, often obscured by the decurrent leaf- 

 blade. Flowers in minute axillary clusters, bracteoles shorter than 

 the sepals, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, mid-nerve green. Perianth - 1 - 

 in. long. Sepals 2, ovate-oblong, subacute, concave. Stamens 2. 

 Utricle indehiscent, ^ in. in diam., orbicular, compressed, mem- 

 branous, plicate when dry. Seeds lenticular, brown and shining 



