300 
FLORA OF ADEN . 
Chenopodium caudatum Jacq. Ic. PI. Rar. t. 344? 
Albersia candata Boiss. FI. Or. IV, 992 ; Schweinf. in Bull. Herb. 
Boiss. IV, Append. II, 164. 
Description v — An erect, much-branched glabrous herb, 1 — 3 feet 
high; branches grooved, glabrous, often purplish. Leaves 1 — 3 by 
J — 2 inches, ovate or deltoid-ovate, obtuse, usually notched at the apex, 
glabrous, base truncate or cuneate ; petioles J — 2 inches long. 
Flowers shortly pedicellate, pale green, in small axillary clusters and 
in slender tapering terminal and axillary paniculate spike-like racemes ; 
bracteoles ovate-oblong, acute, with a green keel, shorter than the 
sepals. Sepals 3, ovate-oblong, — tg i nc ^ l° n g“> membranous, with a 
strong green keel. 
Utricle tV inch long, (as long as the perianth), indehiscent, sub- 
orbicular, compressed, pointed, rugose ; styles 2 or 3, short. Seed 
^ inch in diameter, lenticular, smooth, shining, black. 
Distribution : — Widely distributed in warm countries. 
Uses : — This species is a pot-herb. The tender tops are eaten. 
2 . Amarantus polygamus Linn. Amoenit. Acad. IV (1759) 294; 
Hook. f. FI. Brit. Ind. IV, 721 ; Cooke FI. Bomb. Pres. II, 491. 
Amarantus polygonoides Roxb. FI. Ind. Ill, 602 ; Willd. Sp. PI. IY 
(1805) 389 ; Roxb. FI. Ind. Ill (1832) 602. 
Amarantus Blitum, var. polygonoides Moq. in DC. Prodr. XIII, 
2, 263 
Amblogyna polygonoides Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. FI. 218. 
Albersia polygama Boiss. FI. Orient. IV, 991. 
Euxolus polygamus Moq. in DC. Prodr, 1. c. 272; Thw. Enum. 
248 ( excl . syn . Amblogyne) . 
Arabic name : — Shedach. 
Description • — A prostrate glabrous annual ; stem striate. Leaves 
small, \ — 1 inch by £ — | inch, obovate, obtuse, often notched at the 
tip, base tapering, on the whole very variable. 
Flowers in axillary clusters ; bracteoles shorter than the sepals, 
lanceolate-oblong, awned, membranous, with a strong midnerve. Sepals 
3, ovate-oblong, acute membranous, awned and with a strong mid- 
nerve. Stamens 3 ; styles 3. 
Fruit urceolate, yL- — yL- inch long, ovoid, tapering to a sharp point, 
rugose. Seeds yy inch in diameter, lenticular, smooth and shining, black. 
Locality : — Aden (Boycott) . 
Distribution : — In all tropical countries. 
Note: — Boycott’s specimen in the Herbarium of Kew is named 
Amarantus Blitum Linn. We doubt whether A . Blitum is specifically 
distinct from A . polygamus Linn. 
