314 RttblCLCecZ. \Oldenlandia. 



A much-branched imdershrub, the lower branches often 

 prostrate and rooting at the nodes, stems acutely quadrangular, 

 glabrous, 1. \\-2\ in., oval, tapering to base, acute at apex, 

 rough, with scattered harsh hairs on both sides and margins, 

 petiole \-\ in., stip. short, connate, triangular, very deeply 

 pectinate with long subulate teeth, deciduous ; cal.-segm. 

 linear, ciliate, purple ; cor.-lobes ovate, acute ; capsule very 

 small, narrowly turbinate, membranous, crowned by the cal.- 

 segm. which are many times longer, indehiscent. 



Moist low country; very rare. Murutu (Gardner); Ambagamuwa. 

 Fl. December; pinkish-white. 



Endemic. 



The whole plant is often of an intense purple colour, especially the 

 under sides of the leaves. 



13. OLDENLANDIA, L. 



Herbs, usually annual, stip. various, acute or truncate, 

 fl. small, solitary or in small cymes, axillary ; cal.-segm. 4, 

 erect, distant in fruit ; cor.-lobes 4, obtuse, valvate ; stam. 4, 

 ov. 2-celled, ovules numerous in each cell, on large placentas, 

 style simple, stigmas 2; fruit a small capsule, usually some- 

 what didymous, loculicidally dehiscent on the crown; seeds 

 numerous, smooth or pitted. — Sp. 70; 23 in Fl. B. Ind. 



Ov. terete. 



Capsule as broad as long. 

 L. linear. 



Fl. solitary or in pairs. 



Top of capsule flat, not protruded. 



Fl. pedicellate, in pairs . . . . 1. O. CORYMBOSA 

 Fl. nearly sessile, solitary . . . 2. O. DIFFUSA. 



Top of capsule rounded, protruded beyond 



cal 3. O. HERBACEA. 



Fl. 3-10 together, umbellate . . . . 4. O. umbellata. 



L. ovate or rotundate 5. O. TRINERVIA. 



Capsule twice as long as broad . . . . 6. O. stricta. 



Ov. quadrangular 7. O. BIFLORA. 



1. O. corymbosa, L. Sp. PL 119 (1753). Wal-patpadagam, S. 



Burm. Thes. 22 (in part). Hedyotis Burmamiiana, Br., Thw. Enum. 

 144. O. biflora, Moon Cat. 11 (non L.). C. P. 1676, 2638 (part). 

 Fl. B. Ind. hi. 64. Burm. Thes. t. 11 (good). 



Annual, small, stems numerous, slender, erect or ascending 

 or spreading, 6-1 2 in., glabrous or slightly hispid, cylindrical; 

 1. Jr-i in., linear, sessile, apiculate, margin usually scabrous, 

 stip. short, truncate, pectinate with few teeth; fl. on filiform 

 ped. longer than cal., in pairs (rarely solitary), peduncles very 



