Hydrocotyle.'] Umbelliferce . 275 



1. K. javanica, Thunb. Diss. ii. 415 (1S00). DXaha-gotukola, 6". 



H. capitata, Moon Cat. 22. H. zeylanica, DC. Prod. iv. 6, 7. H. 

 nepalensis, Hk., Arn. Pug. 19. Thw. Enum. 130. C. P. 1634, 2812. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 667. Wight, Ic. t. 1003 {H. polycephala). 



Stems very long, succulent, slightly pubescent especially 

 beneath the nodes, sending up erect, stout, flexuose branches ; 

 1. 3-4 in , orbicular in outline, rather broader than long, very 

 deeply cordate, palmately lobed less than half way down, very 

 coarsely crenate, thin, very shining on both sides, with a few 

 weak bristly hairs on the veins, petiole of 1. from prostrate 

 stem, erect, 6-8 in., of those of upright branches much shorter, 

 cylindrical, pubescent, stip. large, cauline, rotundate, mem- 

 branous ; fl. very small, sessile, 20 or more crowded in dense 

 globular heads on short hairy peduncles 2-6 together from 

 nodes of the upright branches; cal.-segm. o; pet. lanceolate, 

 acute, valvate ; ov. much compressed, glabrous, style spreading ; 

 fruit under \ in., much compressed, smooth, mericarps with 

 primary ridges. 



Moist places in grass under trees; very common in the moist region 

 up to 7000 ft. Fl. May-October; pale green. 



Also in India, Malaya, Trop. Australia, and E. Trop. Asia. 



The large stip. completely enclose the end of the growing branch and 

 young leaf. At the higher elevations the petioles and peduncles are more 

 woolly, and the flowers on longish pedicels, var. /3, Thw. (C. P. 2812). 

 H. zeylanica, DC, was collected by Leschenault about Kandy, and is 

 merely a luxuriant form. 



Used medicinally in the same way as H. asiatica. Mr. E. Green, of 

 Pundaluoya, states (Taprobanian, iii. 7) that the Tamil coolies employ it 

 as a fish-poison. 



2. H. rotundifolia, Roxb. Hort. Beng. 21 (1813). 

 H. nitidula, Hk., Thw. Enum. 130. C. P. 1635. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 668. Wight, Ic. t. 564. 



Very small, stems filiform, copiously rooting, glabrous ; 

 in., nearly circular in outline, the basal lobes almost in 

 contact, but not overlapping, palmately cut half way down 

 into 5 or 7 broad obtuse lobes, crenate, glabrous and shining 

 above, with few coarse hairs beneath, petiole erect, \-\\ in., 

 glabrous, stip. membranous, obtuse ; fl. minute, almost sessile, 

 4-8 in a head, peduncle very short, slender, solitary, bracts 

 oblong, as long as fl.; pet. lanceolate, acute, valvate; styles 

 spreading; fruit extremely small, rather broader than long, 

 compressed, mericarps with primary ribs blunt, glabrous. 



Upper montane zonr-, in moist places rather common. Nuwara Eliya; 

 Hak;;a!a ; Horton Plains. Fl. all the year; pinkish. 

 - m India, Malaya, \V. Trop. Africa. 



