N. 0. XYRIDEjE. 
1305 
linear to ovate or ovate-cordate to acuminate, 7-9-veined, some- 
times as broad as long. Petioles of lower leaves stout, terete ; 
pedicels short, emerging from the channelled sheaths of the 
uppermost leaves. Racemes sub-sessiled, spiciform, young, glo- 
bose ; rhachis lengthening as the flowers expand ; terminal 
flower the first to open. Pedicels £-Jin. Perianth yin. across ; 
segments unequal, 3 larger obovate, 3 smaller oblong, blue ; 
stamens 6, inserted on the base of the perianth segment, one 
longish with the filaments, spurred, large ; anther dark-blue, the 
others yellow. Capsule fin. long, oblong. 
Use : — The root is chewed for toothache, and the bark eaten 
with sugar for asthma. (Atkinson). 
N. 0. XYRIDEiE. 
1290. Xyris indica, Linn., h.f.b.i., vi., 364. 
Roxb. 60. 
Sans. : — Dldamari. 
Vent.: — Dadmari (H.) ; Chin6 ‘gh5s, debidubba (Beng.) ; 
Kotsjillettipullu, kotsj illetri (Mai.) ; 
Habitat : — Marshy ground, in low country ; Bengal ; Sikkim ; 
Assam ; Khasia Hills. Salt marshes in the Southern Konkan 
to Ceylon. 
Erect, tufted, rush-like, scapigerous, glabrous, annual herbs, 
l-2ft. high. Stem short, simple. Leaves radical, as long as 
the scape, £ yin. broad, bifarious, loriform (th'mg-sbaped) or 
ensiform, spongy, narrowed to an obtuse tip scabe robust, 
grossed ; angles acute; spike £-l£in., cylindric, ovoid or globose; 
bracts many, ijm. diam., broader than long, orbicular or cun- 
eately obovoid, tumid, dark red-brown, shining, very coriaceous ; 
margins scarious ; flowers yin. broad, yellow, lateral bracteoles 
dorsally winged ; wing serrulate ; claw of petal as long as the 
sepal. Petal limb orbicular, erose ; stamens 3, inserted on petal ; 
filament short, broad ; anther oblong. 2 cells, obtuse above, 
acute at the base ; staminodes 2-3-fid ; arms long ; stigmas 
truncate. (Trimen.) 
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