3 1 2 RubiaceCB. \Hedyotis. 



which is perforate in centre ; Seeds numerous, finely muri- 

 culate, dark brown. 



Upper montane zone on the patanas above 6000 ft.; very common. 

 Fl. April, May; white. 



Also in the Nilgiri Mts. 



A very curious species, totally unlike all the others in habit. The 

 large stipules are completely concealed in the sheathing leaf-bases, and 

 are constantly immersed in the water that fills them. 



17. K. caerulea, W. and A. Prod. 412 (1834). 

 Thw. Enum. 144. C. P. 1674. 



Fl. B. Ind. iii. 60. Bedd. Ic. PI. Ind. Or. t. 30. 



Annual, stem erect, 3-12 in., very slender, usually much 

 branched, cylindrical, rough with small harsh prominences; 

 1. about \ in., narrowly linear, sessile, sharply aristate at apex, 

 minutely scabrous, margins reflexed, stip. adnate to l.-base, 

 pectinate, with long filiform bristle-like teeth ; cymes small, 

 few-flowered, sessile, terminal or axillary, fl. sessile, often 

 solitary in the bifurcations ; cal.-segm. lanceolate, rigid, 

 tapering to sharp spinous apex ; capsule globular-ovoid, 

 crowned with erect cal.-limb nearly equalling it in length, 

 pubescent, loculicidally dehiscent on the top only. 



Sandy places near the coast, especially in the dry region ; rather 

 common. Colombo; Chilaw; Mannar; Jaffna; Batticaloa. Fl. Dec— 

 . Feb.; blue. 



Also in S. India. 



18. H. nit id a, W. and A. Prod. 412 (1834). Pita-sudu-pala, S 



H. Neesiana, Am. Pug. 23. Thw. Enum. 143. C. P. 122. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iii. 61. Bedd. Ic. PL Ind. Or. t. 36 ? {H. glabella). 



Annual, branches numerous, prostrate or ascending, slender, 

 quadrangular, slightly rough on the angles; 1. i-if in., ovate- 

 or oblong- or linear-lanceolate, acute or rounded at base, 

 acute at apex, margin rough, often slightly revolute, bright 

 light green, glabrous and shining above, scabrous at end, 

 whitish and with the midrib often slightly rough beneath, 

 stiff and rigid, petiole very short, stip. of long filiform ciliate 

 bristles; fl. axillary, solitary or 2 or 3 together, sessile; cal.- 

 segm. large, broadly lanceolate, rigid, spinous-ciliate, recurved ; 

 cor.-lobes longer than tube ; capsule globose, crowned with 

 large cal.-segm., glabrous, veiny, dehiscent on summit only. 



Lower montane zone ; rather rare. Ambagamuwa ; Ramboda ; near 

 Bilahul-oya. Thwaites says 'common;' the Fl. B. Ind. queries its 

 occurrence here. Fl. March ; white. 



Also in Peninsular India. 



Thwaites says that the leaves of this are chopped up, boiled, and 

 eaten with rice. 



