JDraccena] CIX. LILIAOE-^ 641 



Mostly climbing, stems mucli branched. 



L. broad, 3-7 basal n. joined by reticulate 



veins * 2. Smilax. 



Narrow linear cladodia in the place of leaves . 3. Asparagus. 



1. DRACAENA, Linn.; M. Brit. Ind. vi. 327, 



Stem erect or procumbent, usually annulate, simple or forked, sometimes 

 with a large branching head {Dracoena Draco^ L., of Teneriffe), L. 

 usually crowded, forming a terminal crown, lanceolate or linear, with a 

 midrib often faint, and oo longit. n., transverse veinlets oblique. Fl. in 

 terminal panicles. Perianth tubular or campanulate, 6-cleft, lobes narrow. 

 Stamens 6, inserted at the mouth of the perianth- tube, anthers versatile. 

 Ovary 3-celled, style filiform, 1 ovule in each cell. Berry l~3-seeded, albumen 

 horny, embryo small. Species 35, tropical and sub^tropical regions of Africa, 

 Asia, and Australia. Besides the two following, a number of smaller species 

 in India. 



1. B. angustifolia, Eoxb. — Syn. D. ensifolia^ Wall. Yern. Kunlinnet^ Burm. Khasi 

 hills. Andamans. Tenasserim — Malay Archip. New Guinea. Australia. China. 

 Stem 8-30 ft. high, 1. linear, sessile with a broad base, 12-24 by 1-1 J in. FL white or 

 with purplish tips, |-1 in. long, in large spreading panicles. 2. D. spicata, Eoxb. 

 Assam. Khasi hills. Cachar, Chittagong. Andamans. Western G-hats and 

 Nilgiris. Stem 10-15 ft. high, 1. elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed into a broad-based 

 petiole, 12-15 by 1^-2 in., the midrib evanescent towards the apex. Fl. greenish- 

 yellow, scented, slender, in a long, contracted, racemiform panicle. Berry crimson. 



Cordyline terminalis, Kunth. Cultivated in gardens, and run wild in India and 

 Burma, original home probably Malaya. Attains 8-10 ft., stem slender, 1. lanceolate 

 or elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed into a broad-based petiole, nerves branching oif from 

 the midrib at a very acute angle, blade (often variegated purple and black, var. ferrea) 

 12-24, pet. 3-6 in. long. Fl. white or purple, in an ample terminal panicle. Ovary 

 3-celled, ovules several in each cell, biseriate. 



% SMILAX, Linn. ; FL Brit Ind. vi. 302. 



Climbing shrubs, stems slender, from a creeping rootstock, a few lierbs. 

 L. persistent, basal n. 3-7, joining at the apex, with a system of reticulate 

 veins, petiole usually with 2 tendrils at the base. Fl, umbellate, dioecious. 

 Perianth-segments 6, free. Ovary trigonous, 3-celled, 1 or 2 pendulous ovules 

 in each cell. Berry globose, seeds usually 2, hemispheric. Species 180, 

 cosmopolitan in the tropics and temperate regions. Of the Indian species 

 only three, large and widely distributed, can be mentioned. 



A. Umbels sessile. 



1. S. aspera, Linn. ; Collett Simla FL, 522, fig. 175.— Syn. 8. mactdata,l^o±b, 5 Wight 

 Ic. t. 2059. Outer Himalaya from Kasiimir eastwards, ascending to 6,000 ft. Khasi 

 Hills. Upper Burma. Nilgiris, Palnis.— Ceylon, montane zone up to 7,000 ft. 

 Mediterranean region. An extensive climber, branches armed or unarmed, 1. often 

 blotched, triangular or ovate, base more or less cordate, blade 2-5, pet. 1 in., basal n. 

 usually 7. Inflorescence spiciform, umbels numerous sessile. Berry i in. diam, in large 

 pendulous bunches, red, finally blue-black. 



B. Umbels pedunculate. 



2. S. prolifera, Boxb. Vern. JRdm-dataun, Dehra Dun ; Seinnahaw, Burm. Subhima - 

 layan tract and outer hills, from the Jumna eastwards, ascending to 4,000 ft., common in 

 Sal forest. Deciduous forests in the moister parts of India and Burma. Ceylon moist 

 region to 3,000 ft. A stout climber, stem prickly, up to 1 in. diam. L. rigidly 

 coriaceous, ovate to orbicular, the 2 inner nerves separating from the midrib some 

 distance above the base, blade 4-8, pet. 1 in., usually axiricled. Umbels in large 

 axillary panicles, fl. pale-green. Berry J in. diam., red when ripe. 



3. S. macropHyUa, Eoxb. Vern. Eamdatun^ Hind. Subhimalayan tract from 

 Kumaon eastwards. Behar. Ohutia Nagpur. Central Provinces, common. The 

 Konkan. Assam. Chittagong. Pegu. Coco islands. A large prickly climber, 

 1. ovate to orbicular, blade 6-18 in. diam., basal n. 5-7, pet. narrowly sheathing, not 

 auricled. Umbels 2-3, alternate on a common peduncle. Berries large. 



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