POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 607 



says the leaves are smooth above. Hooker also says the leaves are 

 sessile, but the general character is best described by calling it sub- 

 sessile, though at times the petiole is absent. Margin of the leaf 

 quite entire. Generally 4" to 8" long, 1" to even 6" broad ; cuneate, 

 obovate. Base refuse, sub-cordate or even cordate ; at times assuming 

 what Prof. Bentley calls panduriform or fiddle-shape as in Fiddle-dock 

 (Rumez pulcher)* 



Axils. — Bearded. This is corroborated by Wight in other words 

 when he says : that " The leaves are often furnished at their insertion 

 with glands or hairs in lieu of stipules." 



Petiole. — Often very short, rigid, channelled on the ventral 

 aspect, and bearing a beard of numerous, short, stiff-pointed brownish 

 hairs where it merges into the midrib. Veins white and prominent 

 on the dorsal aspect ; alternate ; sometimes in pairs, reflex at the margin. 

 Venules transverse, thin. The midrib becomes gradually thinner and 

 thinner on the under-surf ace, ultimately not more than a line thick as it 

 reaches the apex, though at the petiole it may be as thick as a goose-quill. 

 Internodes. — Wide, often 3-4 inches long, and at times even 

 longer where the stem grows quickly in suitable soil. 



INFLORESCENCE.— Extra-axillary in subumbelliform or sub- 

 racemose cymes. The umbels are cottony, says Hooker. 



Peduncle. — Alternate with the succeeding peduncle ; rigid, solitary, 

 many-flowered ; with a white tomentum. 



Pedicels. — Subumbellate, longer than the flowers ; pink, round. 

 Bracts. — Oblong (Hooker). Hamilton says there are scarcely any. 

 FLOWERS. — Regular, pentamerous, hermaphrodite ; tomentose ; 

 sometimes pure white, sometimes pinkish-purplish, the colour deepen- 

 ing as the flower matures, and even for some time after the flower has 

 fully opened. 

 Pise. — Absent. 



CALYX. — Very small, inferior, persistent ; sepals five, hardly more 

 than two lines in length, and one line in breadth, glandular at base 

 ventrally ; ovate, concave, acute ; adhering to the base of the corolla. 

 ^Estivation of the calyx quiocuncial ; that of the corolla valvate. 

 COROLLA. — Monopetalous, broadly campanulate. Petals 5, broad, 

 smooth, spreading ; \-% inches in diameter, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 

 revolute and twisted in age. 



