218 



8. AMBLOGYNA, Raf. 



1. A POLYGONOIDES. Stem from a span to a foot long; 

 decumbent or ascending, angular and striated, smooth, red or green; 

 branches diffuse-flexuose ; leaves rhomb-ovate or obovate-cuneate 

 at the base, obtuse, emarginate, smooth, green, glaucous beneath, 

 about an inch long ; clusters of flowers much shorter than the 

 petiole, roundish, 6 to 8-flowered. Very common in all cultivated 

 lands. Syn. Amaranthus polygonoides, Linn. sp. ; Wight Ic. t. 512. 



9. MENGEA, Schaner. 



1. M. TENUIFOLIA, Moq. in DC. Prod. 13, p 271. Branched 

 from the root ; branches distant-spreading ; leaves small, obovate- 

 obtuse, much attenuated towards the base, the nerves prominent 

 beneath ; clusters of flowers shorter than the petiole, subternate, 

 few-flowered ; bracts lanceolate-obtuse. Common everywhere. 

 Native name " Ghol." This and the preceding, along with the 

 Amaranthus, form the staple pot-herbs of the Natives ; and, when 

 young, are as good as Spinach. 



10. ACHYRANTHES. 



1. ASPERA, Linn. sp. p 295. Stem erect, striated, pubescent, 

 of a dusky-ash colour ; branches spreading obsoletely, 4-sided ; 

 leaves shortly-petioled, obovate-rounded, sometimes somewhat 

 rhomb-rounded, suddenly attenuated at the base, very obtuse and 

 very shortly acuminated, pubescent, pale-green ; spikes long, slender, 

 twiggy, lax, flowered ; flowers shining, greenish ; lateral bracts with 

 an awn as long as the limb. It is B indica Var. which is found 

 in Bombay, with the leaves slightly undulated, rather soft and 

 pubescent. Syn. Amaranthus spicatus, Dicbam. ; Pluk. Phyt. t. 10, 

 /. 4; Mill. Ic. t. 11, f. 2 ; A obtusifolia, Lam. Diet, i, 545. 



11. DIGERA, Forsk. 



1. ARVENSIS, Forsk. Fl. -<Egypt. Arab, p 65. Stems annual, 

 Btriated, glabrous ; leaves ovate or somewhat acute or obtuse, thin, 

 somewhat wrinkled, green, sometimes reddish on the margin ; 

 spikes slender, somewhat panicled, 5 to 6 inches long, erect, rather 

 rigid ; bracts ovate-mucronate, whitish ; flowers rose-coloured, very 

 small. Common in the rains. Syn. Achyranthes polygonoides, 

 Retz. Obs. ii, p 12; A digera, Poir. Diet. Suppl. 1. 2, p 11 ; 

 Chamissoa commutata, Spr. syst. 1, p 815; Desmochasta muricata, 

 Wight Ic. t. 732; Achyranthes alternifolia, Linn. M ant. 50 and 

 344; A muricata, B; Willd. sp. i, 1193; D muricata, Mart. Beitr. 



