Desmodiiun.] Legummosce. 45 



In the Mannar District the seeds are eaten as a grain, and have the 

 same name as Panicum frumeutaceum. 



4. A. long-ifolius, W. a?idA. Prod. 233 (1834). 

 Thw. Enum. 412. C. P. 3814. 



Fl. B. Ind. ii. 158 (not given for Ceylon). Wight, Ic. t. 251. 



Stems stout, ascending, 4-5 ft., glabrous ; 1. on short 

 petioles, 1J-2 in., lanceolate-oblong, slightly cordate at base, 

 obtuse, glabrous on both sides, stip. as long as petiole ; fl. 

 numerous, on short hairy erect ped., racemes rather dense, 

 very long, spicate, bracts very conspicuous, concealing buds, 

 ovate, acuminate, silky, falling before fl. open ; cal. hairy, 

 segm. oblong, acute, ciliate ; pod. |-| in., very shortly stalked, 

 terete-compressed, strongly apiculate, of 3-6 joints, slightly 

 moniliform, puberulous, reticulate-veined, cal. as long as 2 

 lowest joints. 



Low country ; very rare (?). Near Colombo (Ferguson). 



Throughout Peninsular India. 



5. A. rug-osus, DC. Prod. ii. 353 (1825). 



A. scariosits, Grah., Thw. Enum. 88. C. P. 3589. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 159. 



Branches erect or prostrate, rather stout, more or less 

 covered with spreading bristly hairs ; 1. small, on short hairy 

 petioles, |-i in., varying from broadly oval to oblong or 

 oblong-linear, somewhat cordate at base, obtuse, apiculate, 

 glabrous above, slightly bristly beneath, stip. longer than petioles, 

 acute, glabrous ; fl. nearly sessile, densely crowded in short 

 nearly sessile heads or spikes, bracts large, chaffy, acuminate, 

 strongly ciliate, persistent; cal.- segm. lanceolate, acute, 

 strongly ciliate ; pod short, stalked, of 2-5 joints, moniliform, 

 turgid, glabrous, strongly transversely ribbed, nearly all 

 included in cal. 



Var. ft, Heyneanus, Baker. A. Heynea?ius, Wight, Thw. Enum. 88. 

 Much larger, more hairy, especially 1. beneath; fl. in longer 

 spikes. 



Low country, in the dry region ; rare. Mineri Tank ; Mantai, &c, in 

 the Mannar Dist. abundant. Var. ft, Colombo (Ferguson). Fl. Feb., 

 March ; bright dark pink, with the standard yellow, conspicuous. 



Also throughout the Tropics of the Old World, and in W. Indies and 

 S. Africa. 



Our plant as usually met with is very dwarf and stunted, and is var. 2 

 styracifolius of Fl. B. Ind. 



20. DESMODIUM, Desv. 

 Small shrubs or perennial herbs, 1. 3- or i-foliolate, lflts. 

 shortly stalked, stipellate, fl. small, usually in lax axillary or 



