T!eianteema.] FICOIBEM, 385 



accace(K, (including Gisehia) with the Caryophyllacece and the Ficoideoe 

 (including Trianlhema and Mollugo), 



Stamens inserted on the calyx-tube ^ . 1. Teianthema. 



Stamens hypogynous. 



Stipules caducous, fruit a 3-5-celled capsule . 2. Mollugo. 



Stipules O5 fruit of 5 separate indehiscent 1- 

 eeeded carpels ..... 3. Gisekia. 



1. TRIANTHEMA, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, 660. 



Diffuse prostrate "branched herbs, glabrous or papillose. Leaves 

 petioled, opposite, unequal, from linear to ovate or obovate, entire ; 

 petioles connected at the base by their dilated membranous margins, 

 stipules 0. Flowers small, axillary, sessile or peduncled, solitary or 

 in cymes or clusters. Calyx-tiihe short or long, lobes 5, often cus- 

 pidate, coloured within. Fetah 0. Stamens o-lO ov more, inserted 

 near the top of the calyx-tube. Ovarf^ free, 1-2-celled; styles 

 1 fir 2, subulate : ovules 1 or many, basal. Capsule membranous 

 or coriaceous, clavate, circumsciss, the upper portion often carrying 

 away 1 or 2 seeds attached to or enclosed in it, the lower portion 2- 

 many-seeded. /S'eec?^ reniform ; embryo annular. — Species 12, in the 

 tropical and subtropical regions of the world. 



Style 1. 



Stamens about 15 , . . . . 1. T. monogyna. 



Stamens 5 . 2. T. crystallina. 



Styles 2. 



Stamens 5 . . . . . . , 3. T. pentandra. 



1. T. monogyna, Linn.; F. B. I. ii, 660; Watt E. D. T. obcordata, 



Hoxb. ; Fl. Ind. ii, 445 ; W. S^ A. Prod. 355 ; U. Sf G. Bomb. Fl. 14. 



A prostrate glabrous or slightly pubescent herb. Leaves i-'\^-m. long, 

 obovate ; petiole ^ in , dilated and membranous at the base. Flowers 

 solitary. Calyx-tube scarious, thin, closely sheathed by the base of the 

 petiole ; lobes ovate, cuspidate. Stamens \ 0-20. Ovej-y truncate, style 



1. Capside ■§■ in., scarious below; beak exerted, coriaceous, sulDmitri- 

 f orm, carrying away with it 3 of the 6-8 seeds. Seeds black, scarcely 

 shining, marked with raised lines. 



Common within the area. Distrib. Throughout India and in Ceylon ; 

 also in W. Asia, Africa and Trop. America. The root is used medicin- 

 ally, and the leaves and stems are eaten as a vegetable. 



2. T. crystallina, VaU. ; Boxh. ; Fl. Ind. ii, 444 ; W. ^ A. Prod. 355 ; 

 D. 4- G. Bomb. Fl. 14 ; F. B. I. ii. 660 ; Watt E. D.— Vern. Pathar-phor 

 (Merwara). 



A glabrous or minutely papillose herb, with prostrate filiform stems. 

 Leaves -l-f in., narrowly oblanceolate or elliptic, petiole very short or 0. 



