Notes on Indian Botany. 363 



point very readily distinguishes this species from all the 

 others of the section. Leaves about 4 inches long, by from 

 2| to 3 broad, rounded or subcordate at the base, pointed, 

 coriacious, racemes from an inch and a half to 2 inches long 

 with from 8 to 12 short pedicelled flowers ; bractea small, 

 thick and fleshy, and being adpressed to the base of the 

 ovary gives it a humpback appearance, which is common to 

 other species of the section. It is a most distinct species. 



4. Loranthus (Scurrula) Euphorbia (R.W.) Glabrous, 

 erect, very ramous branches, leaves short petioled, ellip- 

 tic or orbicular, with a tendency to attenuation downwards 

 when dry, obscurely 3-nerved, succulent, veinless, when green: 

 flowers sessile, axillary or fascicled round the knots of the 

 branches : bractea lateral, embracing the base of the ovary, 

 very obtuse ; calyx truncated entire : corolla tube terete, limb 

 elongated, indurated, acute before expansion, lacinise-subulate, 

 becoming elastically involute on dehiscence : filaments red ; 

 anthers subulate : stigma clavate : berry red, about the size 

 of a small bean. 



Had. Parasitic on Euphorbia antiquorum and tortilis, 

 flowering July. Frequent about Coimbatore. 



Very nearly allied to L. elasticus, but I think quite distinct ; 

 differing in the form of the leaves and in their being only 3, 

 not 5-nerved. The flowers of this are slender, about an inch 

 and a half long, above one-third of which only is truly peta- 

 loid, forming the proper tube; the limb is firm and coriaci- 

 ous ; at first bursting with elasticity, and then becoming 

 spirally involute like the main-spring of a watch. The whole 

 plant is exceedingly fragile, and will scarcely bear the gentlest 

 handling, tumbling all to pieces in drying. The juices of this 

 plant do not show a trace of milkiness. 



