247 



CXXXI. DIOSCORINE^l. 



1. DIOSCOREA, Linn. 



1 . D TRIPHYLLA, Linn. sp. 1462. Twining; branches furrowed, 

 a little hairy, and armed with small prickles ; leaves scattered, 

 ternately 3-divided, membranaceous, with pellucid lines ; segments 

 cuspidate, terminal one elliptic-oblong, lateral obliquely ovate ; 

 male racemes axillary, in threes, generally all simple ; rachis and 

 pedicels clothed with whitish hairs ; capsules obovate-oblong, 

 pubescent. Rheed. Mai. vii, t 33. The root is said by Graham to 

 be intoxicating and intensely bitter. Common in the Concan. 



2. D OPPOSITIFOLIA, Linn. sp. 1463. Root, as in all the 

 species, tuberous, perennial; stems twining, slender, round, smooth, 

 annual ; leaves opposite-petioled, oval, acute, waved, 3 to 7-nerved ; 

 male flowers very numerous, in axillary panicles ; female flowers 

 few, in axillary spikes ; flowers in the rainy season. The roots are 

 eaten by the Natives. On the Ghauts, common. 



3. D PENTAPHYLLA, Willd. Herb. No. 1841 1. Branches 

 prickly, furrowed, rather hairy; leaves digitate, 5-divided, membra- 

 naceous, puberulous ; segments oblong-acurninate cuspidate ; 

 stipulary prickles twin ; female spikes axillary twin, simple, scarce- 

 ly longer than the petiole ; male-flowers numerous, greenish- 

 white, and exquisitely fragrant. They are sold in the bazar, and 

 eaten as greens. Common in the Concan, and on the Ghauts. 

 Rumph. Amb. v, p 359, t. 127. 



2. HELMTA, Kunth; DIOSCOREA, Auct. 



1. H BULBIFERA. Smooth and bull-bearing; branches terete; 

 leaves scattered, cordate, subrotund ovate-acuminate cuspidate, 9- 

 nerved, membranaceous ; male spikes axillary, simple, about 5 

 together, or compound panicled ; segments of the flower 6, lanceo- 

 late-acute; female spikes about 3 together, longer than the leaf ; 

 capsules oblong, smooth, of the texture of parchment. Native 

 name " Caroo-Karunda. Bombay and Concans, common. 



2. H DJEMONA, Kunth. Enum. v, 439. Root tuberous ; stems 

 annual, twining, armed ; leaves ternate ; leaflets obovate-cuneate, 

 3 to 5-nerved, very large, acute entire, both sides villous when 

 young ; petioles armed with small prickles ; male spikes axillary 

 compound, drooping, sometimes leaf-bearing ; 6 to 18 inches long; 

 female flowers on a different plant ; spikes axillary solitary, pendu- 

 lous. At Vingorla ; Hills in Concan, rare. Syn. Dioscorea daemona, 

 Roxb. Fllnd. iii, 805; Wight Ic. 811. 



