126 URT1CACEM. [ GIRARDINIA. 



should more correctly be referred to G. palmata, Gaud. (G. heteroplylla, 

 VAR. palmata, F. B. 1. I.e.) as being the more prevalent variety found 

 on the Nilgiris. 



6. PILEA, Lindl. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. V, 551. 



Herbs, rarely undershrubs. Leaves opposite, in equal or unequal 

 pairs, entire or serrate, 3-nerved at the base, rarely penni- 

 nerved ; stipules connate, intrapetiolar. Flowers minute, monoe- 

 cious or dioecious, in axillary long or short peduncled dichotomously 

 branching cymes, bracts small or none. Perianth simple. MALE 

 flowers. Sepals 2-4, free or connate in a cup, often gibbous or 

 horned on the back. Stamens 2-4. Pistillode conical or oblong. 

 FEM. flowers. : Sepals 3, rarely 4, very small and unequal, dorsal 

 longest, sometimes gibbous or hooded. Staminodes minute and 

 scale-like or none. Ovary straight ; stigma sessile, pennicillate, 

 ovule erect. Fruit an ovoid or oblong compressed membranous 

 or crustaceous achene, sometimes clasped at the base by the per- 

 sistent sepals. Seed erect, testa thin, albumen very scanty, cotyle- 

 dons broad. Species about 100, tropical or sub-tropical, none 

 found in Australia. 



P peploides, Hook, and Arn. Bot. Beech. Voy. 96 ; F. B. I. 

 v, 554. 



A very smaH tufted glabrous herb, branching from the base. Stems 

 or branches 3-5 in. long, succulent, flaccid. Leaves J- in. long 

 and broad, orbicu]ar-ovate, rounded at the apex, entire or crenate 

 above the middle ; base cuneate, 3-nerved ; petiole as long as the 

 blade ; stipules obscure. Flowers minute, indense sessile andro- 

 gynous, globose heads J in. in diam. Schene-s very minute sub-globose, 

 smooth. 



In the Kheri district of N. Oudh, and in the Gorakhpur district (Duthie's 

 ' collectors). DISTRIB. : From the Punjab Himalaya to the Sikkim 

 Terai also in Cachar and Burma, extending to China, Japan, Java 

 and to the Sandwich and Galapagos Islands. 



P. Muscosa, Lindl. A minute creeping herb with entire penninerved 

 leaves is often found as a garden weed in damp places and is known 

 as the Gunpowder Plant owing to the profuse discharge of pollen 

 from the anthers when the plant is shaken. It has been introduced 

 from S. America. 



