Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon. 9 



orbicularis circumcirca acute serratis dense ciliatis, petiolis 

 sarmentisque longe patente villosis, stipulis membranaceis 

 grosse reticulatis lanceolatis acuminatis demum glabriusculis, 

 corymbis parvis axillaribus dichotomis. 



Alchemilla indica, Gardn. Herb. Flor. Ceylon, n. 273. 



Alchemilla vulgaris, Am. Pugil. Plant. Ind. n. 48. Wight 

 Icon. Plant, t. 229. fnon Linnaeus J 



Hab. — Common on the open grassy plains of the interior, 

 at an elevation of from 4 to 8,000 feet : very abundant 

 between Newera Ellia and the Horton Plains. Flowers in 

 June to September. 



Descr. — Stem short, somewhat woody. Lower leaves from 2^-3 

 inches in diameter : petioles 6-7 inches long. Stipules adnate to 

 the petiole, about an inch in length. From the axills of these leaves 

 proceed leafy runners from 1-2 feet in length, which frequently take 

 root at their extremities and form new plants. The leaves of these 

 shoots are much smaller than the radical ones, and are borne on much 

 shorter petioles : it is from the axills of these that the corymbs proceed. 

 Corymbs pedunculate, 1^-2 inches long, villous, dichotomous, the 

 divisions bearing small leafy bracts at their base. Floral bracts 

 simple or trifid, acute, about as long as the flowers. Pedicel about 

 half a line long, villous. Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx free : tube 

 urceolate, the throat nearly closed by an annular disk : limb 8-parted, 

 the divisions in two series, all ovate, acuminate, ciliate, somewhat 

 3-nerved and reticulated, those of the external series smaller than 

 the internal ones. Corolla none. Stamens 4, inserted on the exter- 

 nal margin of the broad ring in the throat of the calyx, opposite 

 the external calycine segments : filaments flattened, glabrous : anthers 

 subglobose, 1 -celled, dehiscing transversely. Ovary solitary, shortly 

 stipilate, free, glabrous, 1 -celled, with a single ascending ovule. Style 

 basilar, filiform, glabrous : stigma capitate. Ripe fruit not seen. 



Obs. — This, which is the only species of the genus hitherto 

 described from India, and which is common to Ceylon and 



c 



