Desmodium.'] 



37. LEGUMINOSiE, 



129 



tliG YellJlpur gluits. Fl. Fr. R. S. The segments of the pod catch on 

 ■and adhere strongly to clothing. 



4 D. triquetrum, 1)0. Prod. II. 32G ; Fl. Br. 1. 2. 163; Dalz. & 

 Gibs, Bomb. Fl. G6. Antbarlu^ K. Central and Eastern Himalayas, 

 throughout India proper to Ceylon, China, Philippines, Common in 

 the moist forests of the Konkan and North Kan;ir<i from the coast in- 

 wards ; a very distinct species. FL Sept.-Jany. Fr. C. S. The reddish 

 winged petioles and the triquetrous branches are characteristic* Through- 

 out tropical India ascending to 6000 ft, in Sikkim ; Western Peninsula. 



5. D. laxiflorum, DC. Prod. II. 335 ; Fl. Br, 1. 2. 164. Jungly 

 ganga, Vern, Common in the forests along the Supa ghats of North 

 Kanara. Fl, Fr- R. & C, S. 



6. D. gangeticum, DO. Prod, II. 327; Fl. Br. I. 2. 168; Dalz. & 

 Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 66. Salparni^ Salwan daye, Bomb. Lower hills and 

 plains of India ; ascends to 5000 ft. on the Himalayas and eastwards to 

 Pegu. Throughout the presidency both in the plains and in the moist 

 forests of the Konkan and North K^nara, Fl. May- June, Fr. July- 

 Aug. 



7. D. latifolium, DO. Prod. II. 327 ; Fl. Br. I. 2. 168 ; Dalz. & 

 Oibs. Bomb. Fl. 66. Eastern Himalayas to Burma, Siam and Ceylon, 

 In the moist forests of the Konkan and North Kanara. FL Fr. K.. S. 

 Yields a strong fibre useful for paper making. 



8. D. polycarpum, DC. Prod. II. 334; Fl. Br. I. 2. 171 ; Dalz. & 

 Oibs. Bomb. Fl. 66. Himalaya to Ceylon, China, Japan and Polynesia. 

 Common throughout the presidency, scarcely worth including in the 

 present list. Fl. R. S. Fx. 0, S, An erect or sub-erect small shrub. 



9. D. gyrans, DO. Prod. II. 326; Fl. Br. I. 2. 174. The Sema- 

 pliore Plant. Along the Himalayas from Hazara to Assam ascending to 

 7000 ft. Western Peninsula, Ceylon, Ava, Pegu. Throughout the 

 moist forests of the Konkan and North Kanara, very common. Fl. R. S. 

 Fr. Oct.-Nov. A small shrub with dehiscent pods. The peculiar jerky 

 motion of the lateral leaflets has been much commented on by botanists. 



The species of Desmodium, although mostly small under-shrubs, are in- 

 oluded in this list, as they are common in the undergrowth of many of 

 the forests of the Konkan and North Kanara. 



10. ABRUS, Linn. 



Climbers. Leaves pinnate ^ leaflets deciduous. Flowers small in 

 racemes on axillary peduncles or short branches. Calyx campanulate, 

 teeth short. Corolla exserted, keel ovate. Stamens 9^ united in a 

 tube^ the lOth absent ; anthers uniform ; Style short, incurved. 

 Stigma capitate. Pod thin or turgid, septate. 



Pod turgid, 3-5-seeded ... ... ... 1» A. precatoHus. 



Pod tbin, flat, 6-8-8eeded ... ... A. pulchellus, 



1. A. precatorius, Linn.; DC. Prod. IT. 381; Fh Br. I. 2. 175; 

 Dalz. & Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 76; Brandis For. Fl. 139. Indian or Wild 



B 987—17 



