394 cix. ACANTHACE^. (C. B. Clarke.) [Elytraria. 



II. EIiVTRARXA, Vahl. 



Herbs, nearly stemless. Leaves alternate, crowded, subradical. Scapes 

 covered by imbricated bracts ; spikes close, rigid, simple or divided ; bracts 

 spirally imbricate, not opposite ; bracteoles smaller than tbe bracts. Calyx 

 stib-4-partite, segments unequal, the largest sometimes 2-fid. Corolla sma}!, 

 white or blueish ; tube linear, limb 2-lipped ; lobes 5, oblong, imbricate in 

 bud. Stamens 2 perfect, attached in the corolla-throat ; aathers elliptic, 

 acute ; cells 2, parallel, with or without a minute spur at the base. Style 

 shortly 2-lobed ; ovules 6-10 in each cell, superimposed. Capsuls ellipsoid, 

 acute. Seeds minute, ovoid, reticulated, minutely papillose, attached at a 

 minute point without retinacula. — Species 3—4, American, whereof 1 is 

 widely spread in tropical Africa and Asia. 



E. crenata, Vahl JSmirn. i. 106 ; leaves obovate or elliptic obtuse orenate, 

 bracts elliptic acuminate to a single sharp point. Wall. Cat. 2420 ; Nees 

 in Wall. PI. As. Ear. Hi. 79, and in DC Prodr. xi. 63 ; T. Anders, in Journ. 

 Linn. Soc. ix. 449 ; Dalz. S( Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 183. E. lyrata, Vahl I. c. E. 

 virgata, Vahl I. c; Nees in DC. Prodr. xi. 63. E. marginata, Beauv. Fl. 

 Otoar. ii. 58, t. 93 ; Nees in DC. L c. 63. E. indica, Pers. Syn. i. 23. E. 

 Vahliana, Michx Fl. Bor. Am. L 9, t. 1. Justicia acaulis, Linn. f. Suppl. 

 84 ; Roxb. Cor. PL il. 15, t. 127, and Fl. Ind. i. 119. 



Deccan Peninsula and Cetlon, common southwards; extending north to Delhi, 

 and to the K. Himalaya, O-nffith.^DlSTB^B. Tropical and S. Africa ; tropical and N. 

 America. 



Stem 0-2 in., woolly, leaves 2-5 in., sometimes obtnsely lobed, pubescent at 

 least on the nerves beneath, sessile or narrowed into a petiole. Scapes several, 

 3-10 in., clotlied with bract-like scales. Spikes J-4 in., harsh, simple or branched ; 

 bracts ^ in., margins scarious, ciliate ; bracteoles ^ in., scarions, ciliate. Calyx ^ in. ; 

 segments lanceoUite, scarions, ciliate, the broad one entire at the apex. Corolla 

 i—g in., white or blueish. Anthers muticous at the base ; rudiments of 2 barren 

 stsunens sometimes (at least) present. Capsule J in., rigid ; valves resilient. — The 

 stem is ia African examples sometimes considerably elongate branched, and in 

 American examples the scape is sometimes very tall. 



III. NEI.SONXA, B. Br. 



A diffiise, softly villoas herb. Leaves opposite, elliptic, entire. Spii;es 

 ovate or <3jlindric ; bracts ovate, glandular- villous, closely imbricate, alter- 

 nate or spirally scattered; bracteoles 0. Sepais 4, unequal, lanceolate, the larger 

 often bifid. Corolla very small, purplish rose or white ; tube slender, linib 

 2-lipped ; lobes 5, obtuse, patent. Stamens 2, attached above the middle of 

 the tube ; anthers 2-celled, subincluded ; cells broadly ellipsoid, distinct, 

 more or less divergent, glabrous or ciliate, muticous or minutely spurred. 

 Stigma very shortly 2-lobed; ovules in each cell 8-10. Capsule oblong, 

 acute, bearing seeds from the base, barren upwards. Seeds small, roundly 

 ellipsoid, smooth with granular marks, attached on minute points without 

 retmacula. 



N. campestris, Br. Prod. 481 ; Fndl. Iconogr. t. 79 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austral, iv. S43. N. tomentosa, Nees in Wall. PI. As. Bar. iii. 79, and in 

 DC. Prodr. xi. 65; Griff. Notul. iv. 132; Dalz. Sf Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 183; 

 T. Anders, in Journ. Linn. Soc. ix. 450. N. origanoides, Boem. Sf Sch. Syst. i. 

 173. N. lamiifolia, Spreng. Syst. i. 42. N. canescens, Nees in DC. I. c. 67. 



