80 MALVACJEM. [Sida. 



above, connate below and adnata to tbe tube of the stamens. Stavd- 

 nal'iTAhQ dividing at the summit into numerous anther-bearing fila- 

 ments. Carpels 5—10; styles as many as the carpels; stigmas 

 terminal. Kipe carpels separating from the axis, generally 2-awned 

 at the summit, and dehiscing irregularly or by a small chink. Seed 

 solitary^ pendulous. Species about 70, mostly tropical. 

 A procumbent trailing herb % • • , 1. 8, veroniccefoUa. 

 Small erect shrubs. 



With recurved spines below the petioles . 2. 8, spinosa. 

 Without spines. 

 Awns short. 



Leaves narrowly lanceolate, glabrous 

 or nearly so Z, 8. acuta. 



Leaves rhomboid-lanceolate or 

 obovate, hoary beneath . . . 4i. 8. rhomhifolia. 



Leaves downy on both surfaces . 5. S. grewioides. 



Awns exceeding the calyx, leaves cor- 

 date-oblong, downy on both sur- 

 faces . . . . . . 6. 8, cordofoUa. 



1. S. veronicsefolia, Lamk. Encycl. i, 5.; S. humilis, Wild. ; Boxh. Fl 

 Ind ni, 171; W. ^ A. Prod.45 ; Boyle III. 83 ; D <Sf G. Bomb, Fl. 17; F. £. 

 I.i,322; WattE.D. 



A perennial trailing herb clothed with scattered radiating hairs. Leave 

 1—2 in. long, hroadly ovate or suborbicular, cordate, acute or shortly 

 acuminate, crenate-serrate, slightly hairy; petiole shorter than the 

 blade, Flowers pale yellow, less than | in. in diam., axillary, solitary or in 

 pairs, distant or arranged in loose racemes, peduncles jointed at or above 

 the middle Cal'i/aj 5-angled; segments triangular, acute. Petals exceed- 

 ing the calyx, broad, truncate. Carjpels 6, smooth, shortly. mucronate or 

 bicuspidate. 



Common throughout the area. Distbib. : Hotter parts of India; also in 

 tropical Africa and America, The leaves are medicinal ; the plant is 

 also used as a potherb. 



2. S. spinosa, Linn. 8p. PI. 683; F. B. I., i, 323; {excl. syn. 8. aVnifo- 

 lia L.) ; Watt E. D. S. alba, Linn.; Boxh., Fl. Ind. Hi, 174, W. ^ A. Trod, 

 58;D.<^G.Bomb.Fl.l7. 



A small erect shrub. Stems rough with minute stellate hairs, usually 

 with recurved spiny Itubercles at the nodes below the petioles. Leaves 

 i-2 in. long, very variable, ovate or obovate, obtuse or retuse, 3-nerved, 

 cordate or truncate at the base, crenate-serrate, glabrous above, finely 

 stellate-pubescent beneath; stipules subulate. Peduncles i-l in., 

 jointed near the top. Flowers | in. across, white. Oalyx hairy : seg 

 ments triangular, acute. Eipe carpels 5, with 2 long erect rough beaks ^ 

 equalling the calyx. 



