238 XXXVIII. LYTHRARIE^E. [Woodfordia. 



nal short appendices, persistent in fruit, expanding and generally split 

 below. Petals 6, alternate with the calyx-lobes, linear-lanceolate, minute. 

 Stamens 12, inserted near base of calyx, much exserted ; anthers ovate, 

 versatile. Ovary 2-celled ; style filiform, exserted. Capsule 2-celled, 2- 

 valved, with numerous small seeds, covered with the persistent calyx. 



1. W. floribunda, Salisb.; Boissier Fl. Orient, ii. 737. Syn. Grislea 

 tomentosa,_ Eoxb. Cor. PL t. 31 ; FL Ind. ii. 233 ; W. & A. Prodr. 308. 

 Sans. Dhatri pusJipika, Agnivala (the flame of fire). Vern. Dawi, tawi, 

 tawa, dha, thawi, sautha, dahdi, dhae, dhaura, dhaula. Local names : 

 Dhewtie, Oudh ; Dhuvie, surtari, C.P. ; Pitta mari'a, Gonds, C.P. 



A large shrub, with long spreading branches, pubescent, young branch- 

 lets and leaves with numerous small black glands. Leaves opposite or 

 subopposite, sometimes in whorls of 3, sessile, 2-4 in. long, ovate-lanceo- 

 late from a cordate or rounded base, with 6-10 prominent arcuate lateral 

 nerves on either side of midrib, joined by distinct intramarginal veins. 

 Flowers on slender pedicels dilated above, shorter than calyx, with a few 

 bracts at base, in axillary clusters. Length of style and stamens vary in 

 this plant, as noticed for Ly thrum Salicaria in Oliver's Ind. Bot. 213. 



Common throughout India, beyond the Indus at Peshawar, and in Beluchis- 

 tan. Ascends to 5000 ft. in the N.W. Himalaya. Fl. Feb.-April. 10 ft. high 

 or more, bark smooth, peeling off in thin scales, wood pale nut-brown, close- 

 grained, used as fuel. In the north-west the flowers are collected for export to 

 the Panjab, for dyeing silks. The flowers secrete much honey. 



2. LAWSONIA, Linn. 



Calyx short, broad -turbinate, deeply cleft into 4, broad -ovate lobes, 

 without appendices. Petals 4, sessile, corrugated in bud, inserted on a 

 raised ring at the top of the calyx-tube. Stamens 8, inserted in pairs be- 

 tween the petals, sometimes 4 only j filaments subulate ; anthers broad- 

 oblong, the cells attached to a thick connective. Ovary globose, 4-celled ; 

 style filiform ; ovules numerous, adnate to thick axile placentas. Capsule 

 globose, supported at the base by the persistent calyx, pericarp brittle, 

 bursting irregularly. Seeds truncate, cuneate or pyramidal, with a thick 

 testa ; cotyledons flat, orbicular j radicle short. 



1. L. alba, Lamarck; Boissier Fl. Orient, ii. 744; Wight 111. t. 87 ; 

 W. & A. Prodr. 307. Syn. L. inermis, Linn. ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 258. L. 

 spinosa, Linn. The Henna plant of Egypt. Sans. Mendld. Vern. 

 Mendi, mehndi. 



A glabrous shrub, with angular branchlets sometimes spinescent, and 

 opposite, sessile coriaceous small leaves, elliptic or obovate-elliptic, from 

 a cuneate base ; about 1 in. long. Flowers greenish yellow, very fragrant, 

 J in. across, on short slender pedicels, in large terminal paniculate cymes. 



Indigenous in Beluchistan, on dry hills of the Coromaridel coast, and perhaps 

 in Central India. Cultivated throughout India for its leaves, and as a hedge- 



