2 24 LythraceCB. [Ammannia. 



branches ; 1. opp., on main stem and branches |— f in. but on 

 floriferous branchlets very much smaller and bract-like, nearly- 

 sessile, rounded at apex, spathulate-oval, narrowed at base, 

 glabrous, veins prominent beneath ; fl. very small, solitary 

 in axils of the small 1., which are more or less approximated 

 so that the branchlets look like spikes, bracts 2, linear, 

 scarious ; cal.-tube tubular, campanulate, glabrous, segm. 4, 

 narrowly triangular, very acute, intermediate teeth minute ; 

 pet. 4, very small or o; stam. 4; capsule ovoid, somewhat 

 compressed, opening by 2 valves from the summit ; seeds 

 very minute, oblong, chestnut brown. 



Low country up to 3000 ft., in paddy-fields, tanks, and wet places ; 

 very common. Fl. all the year. 



Throughout India and Malaya, China, Persia. 



Has somewhat the habit and appearance of an Amarantacea. 



2. A. Rotala, F. Muell. Fragm. iii. 108 (1863). 

 Rotala verticillariS) L., Thw. Enum. 122. C. P. 1547. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 567. Wight, Ic. t. 260, A (R. verticilla?'is). 



Stems 3-6 in., often procumbent and rooting at very base, 

 then erect, slightly branched, glabrous, striate ; 1. in whorls of 

 4-8, about \ in., narrowly linear, truncate or bifid at apex, 

 1 -nerved; fl. sessile, solitary, whorled ; cal.-tube tubular, very 

 thin, segm. 3, short, broadly triangular, acute ; pet. 3 or o ; 

 stam. 3 ; ov. 3-celled ; capsule ovoid, completely 3-valved. 



Moist low country; rather common. Fl. all the year. 

 Also in India, Australia, Trop. Africa. 



Thwaites says this is 'very abundant.' I have not found it so in my 

 experience, but it is readily overlooked. 



3. A. pentandra, Roxb. Fl. Ind. i. 425 (1832). 



A. debilis, Ait, Moon Cat. 11. Thw. Enum. 122. C. P. 1548. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 568. Wight, Ic. t. 260, A {Rotala Roxburghiana). 



Stem stout, quadrangular, rooting at the base, 6-12 in. ; with 

 numerous horizontal branches; 1. opp., on the stem \ in., but 

 on the branches much smaller and bract-like, sessile, oblong, 

 subacute; fl. sessile, solitary, bractlets subulate; cal. shortly 

 campanulate, segm. 5, triangular, very acute, intermediate 

 teeth long, subulate; pet. 5; stam. 5; capsule depressed- 

 globular, completely 3-valved; seeds hemispherical. 



Low country in wet places ; common. Fl. all the year. 

 Throughout the Tropics of the Old World. 



4. A. baccifera, L. Sfi. PI. 120 (1753). 



Moon Cat. 11. A. indzca, DC, Thw. Enum. 121. C. P. 1542 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 569. Blume, Mus. Bot. ii. t. 46, A (A. indica). 



