372 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



style is central), with a basal and central placenta.. 



The fruit is in 

 most cases a 

 utricle, i.e. thin 

 walled; and 

 circumciss, the 

 whole upper 

 half coming off. 

 Seeds one or 

 more, with curv- 

 ed embryo and 

 generally shining; 

 black testa. 



The family is 

 divided into two 

 main groups ac- 

 cording as t h e 

 anthers are one- 

 or two-celled. 



Other species 

 are : 



ACHYRANT- 

 HES ASPERA, L.,. 



(fig. 84), very 

 common one on 

 the plains of 

 India. The fruits are bent down and closely op- 

 pressed, and have five stiff pointed sepals surrounding, 

 them. Another species, * A. BIDENTATA, Bl., is com- 

 mon on the hills. 



PUPALIA ATROPURPUREA, Moq. and P. LAPPACEA,, 

 Moq., fairly common over most of India, are peculiar 



FIG 



ACHYRANTHES ASPERA, L. 



