Ammanm'a.] LythracecB. 225 



Stems S-24 in., erect, quadrangular, glabrous, with nu- 

 merous horizontal or ascending branches from the very base, 

 gradually becoming shorter upwards so as to give the plant 

 a pyramidal form; 1. opp. (rarely alternate), on main stem 

 i-if in. but smaller on branches, sessile, oblong-linear, much 

 tapering to base, obtuse at apex, flaccid ; fl. shortly pedicellate, 

 in small loose cymes, forming whorls in the axils ; cal. shortly 

 campanulate, segm. 4, broad, acute, intermediate teeth slightly 

 marked; pet. o; stam. 4 (or 2); capsule exceeding cal., de- 

 pressed-globose, red, irregularly circumscissile ; seeds plane- 

 convex, the plane face excavated. 



Moist sandy ground in the low country, especially in the dry region 

 and near the coast; common. Fl. Jan.-April. 

 Throughout the Tropics of the Old World. 



5. A. cordata, Wight and Am. Prod. 304 (1834). 

 A. salicifolia, var. /3, Thw. Enum. 121. C. P. 3296. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 570. 



Stem 6-12 in., quadrangular, glabrous, branched from the 

 base; 1. \-i\ in., sessile, ovate-oval, cordate and somewhat 

 amplexicaul at base, with a narrow cartilaginous margin ; fl. 

 very shortly pedicellate, in small opp. clusters ; cal.-tube cam- 

 panulate, segm. 4, large, broadly triangular, acute, interme- 

 diate teeth conspicuous; pet. and stam. 4; capsule depressed- 

 globose, almost covered by the inflexed cal.-segm. 



Dry country; rare. Batticaloa; Haragama. Fl. March-June. 

 Also in India. 



6. A. lanceolata, Heynein Wall. Cat. 2106(1828). 

 A. salicifolia, Thw. Enum. 121 (non Monti). C. P. 2796. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 570. 



Stem 3-9 in., slightly branched, quadrangular; 1. \- 1 in., 

 sessile, spathulate-oval, tapering to base; pet. o; otherwise as 

 in A. cordata. 



Low country; rather common. Kalutara; Uma-oya; Batticaloa. 

 Fl. March, April. 



Also in Southern India. 



This is described in Fl. B. Ind. as having petals considerably exceed- 

 ing the cal. Our specimens seem to have none 



7. A. octandra, L.f. Sufip. PL 127 (1781). 

 Moon Cat. II. Thw. Enum. 121. C. P. 2797. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 571. Roxb. Cor. PL t. 133. 



Stem 1-2 ft., erect, stiff, quadrangular, with numerous 

 and ascending branches; 1. on main stem \\-2\ in. but 

 smaller on the branches, sessile, linear-lanceolate, auriculate 

 at base, much tapering to acute apex ; fl. rather large, on very 



PARI II. Q 



