N. 0. XYRIDE.E. 1305 



linear to ovate or ovate-cordate to acuminate, 7-9- veined, some- 

 times as broad as long. Petioles of lower leaves stout, terete ; 

 pedicels short, emerging from the channelled sheaths of the 

 uppermost leaves. Racemes sub-sessiled, spiciform, young, glo- 

 bose ; rhachis lengthening as the flowers expand ; terminal 

 flower the first to open. Pedicels iJin. Perianth |in. across ; 

 segments unequal, 3 larger obovate, 3 smaller oblong, blue ; 

 stamens 6, inserted on the base of the perianth segment, one 

 longish with the filaments, spurred, large ; anther dark-blue, the 

 others yellow. Capsule fin. long, oblong. 



Use : — The root is chewed for toothache, and the bark eaten 

 with sugar for asthma. (Atkinson). 



N. 0. XYRIDEiE. 



1290. Xyris indiea, Linn., h.f.b.i., vi., 364. 

 Roxb. 60. 



Sans. : — Dadamari. 



Vern. : — Dadmari (H.) ; Chine ghas, debidubba (Beng.) ; 

 Kotsjillettipullu, kotsjilletri (Mai.) ; 



Habitat : — Marshy ground, in low country ; Bengal ; Sikkim ; 

 Assam ; Khasia Hills. Salt marshes in the Southern Konkan 

 to Ceylon. 



Erect, tufted, rash-like, scapigerous, glabrous, annual herbs, 

 l-2ft. high. Stem short, simple. Leaves radical, as long as 

 the scape, J-Jin. broad, bifarious, loriform (thong- shaped) or 

 ensiform, spongy, narrowed to an obtuse tip ; scabe robust, 

 grossed ; angles acute ; spike J-l^in., cylindric, ovoid or globose ; 

 bracts many, Jin. diam., broader than long, orbicular or cun- 

 eately obovoid, tumid, dark red-brown, sinning, very coriaceous ; 

 margins scarious ; flowers Jin. broad, yellow, lateral bracteoles 

 dorsally winged ; wing serrulate ; claw of petal as long as the 

 sepril. Petal limb orbicular, erose ; stamens 3, inserted on petal ; 

 filament short, broad ; anther oblong, 2 cells, obtuse above, 

 acute at the base ; staminodes 2-3-fid ; arms long ; stigmas 

 truncate. (Trimen.) 



164 



