277 



meats almost equal: stamens 6, sometimes 3, inserted on the 

 perianth (seldom at the bottom) short, yery rarely monadelphous : 

 anthers 2-celled,. fixed by the back, introrse. Females. Perianth 

 Superior, 6-parted, segments nearly equal, spreading, seldom re- 

 flexed : stamens effete or scarcely any : styline column perspicuous 

 or none: stigmas 3, entire or 2-lobed, plaited upwards: ovary 

 inferior, triangular, 3-celled, ovules 2 in each ceU, suspended at 

 different heights from the inner angle : capsule triquetrous, 3-ceIled, 

 loculicidaUy 3-valved : seeds twin in the cells, flattened, winged at 

 the base : albumen 2-partible by a large central fissure : embryo 

 spathulate: cotyledon flat. — Twining shrubs: rhizome tuberous, 

 fleshy : leaves petioled, scattered, very rarely sub-opposite, reticu- 

 lately digito-nerved, entire or temately trisect: flowers axillary, 

 racemose or spiked, bibracteate at the base. 



(1) H. BULBirEKA. (Kunth.) 



Ident. Kunth Enum. pi. v. 435. 



8i/n. Dioscorea bulbifera. Zinn. D. tamnifolia. Salish. Pa/rad. t. 

 17. I), pulchella. Bohenhaeker pi. Ind. No. 294. 



Engram. "Wight's Icon. t. 878. — Eheede Mai. vii. t. 36. 



Spec. Chab. Smooth : branches terete : leaves cordate, sub- 

 rotund, ovate-acuminate, cuspidate, 9-nerved, membranaceous : male 

 spikes axiLlary, simple, about five together or compound panicled : 

 females about 3 together, longer than the leaf: capsules oblong, 

 smooth, like parchment. 



Bombay. Concans. Malabar. Silhet. Canara. 



(2) D. rmMoiTA. f Kunth. J 

 Ident. Kunth 1. c. p. 439. 



Syn. Dioscorea Doemona. Boxb.fl. Ind. III. 805. 



Engrm. "Wight's Icon. t. 811. 



Spec. Chae. Stems twining, armed: leaves temate, leaflets 

 obovate-euneate, 3^ — 5 -nerved, very large, acute, entire, villous 

 when young : petioles armed with small prickles : male spikes 

 axillary, compound, drooping, sometimes leaf-bearing, 6 — IS-inches 

 long : female spikes axillary, solitary, pendulous. 



Concan hills. Groruckpore. Flowering in the rains. 



(3) H. HiEsuTA. (Kunth.J 

 Ident. Kunth 1. c. p. 438. 



Syn. Dioscorea hirsuta. JBlume. TJbium sylvestre. Eumph. 



Engrm. Eumph. Amb. v. t. 128. — Eheede Mai. vii. t. 51 — 52. 



Spec. Chab. Branches glabrate, slightly prickly : leaves mem- 

 branaceous, slightly hairy on both sides, terminal segment obovate- 



