414 
LXXIX. AMARANTACEiE 
2. Cyathula capitata, Moq . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 722. Less hairy 
than C. tomentosa. Leaves shortly stalked, oval, acuminate, 
2-5 in. long. Heads about 1 in. in diam., white, glistening. 
Simla, common ; August, September. — Kashmir to Sikkim, 6000-9000 ft. 
5. iERTJA. From arua , the Arabic name of this or an allied 
plant. —Warm regions of Asia and Africa. 
iErua scandens, Wall . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 727. A grey-tomen- 
tose, climbing undershrub. Leaves alternate or opposite, shortly 
stalked, hairy, ovate, 1-4 in., acute. Flowers polygamous, silvery 
white, crowded in shining, ovoid or oblong, sessile, axillary or 
paniculate spikes J-l in. long. Perianth scarious, hairy outside, 
5-parted ; segments lanceolate, finely pointed* Stamens 5 or 4, 
usually unequal, alternate with 5 or 4 linear, short or long 
staminodes and united with them at the base. Ovary ovoid ; 
style short, stigma capitate. Fruit a dry, ovoid utricle enclosed 
by the perianth and containing a single seed. 
Valleys below Simla, common ; July-October.— Throughout India, ascend- 
ing to 6000 ft. — Tropical Asia and Africa. 
6. ACHYRANTHES. From the Greek achyron, chaff, and 
anthos, a flower ; referring to the scarious inflorescence. — Nearly 
all tropical and subtropical regions. 
Straggling, more or less hairy undershrubs ; stems usually 
dividing into long, rambling branches. Leaves opposite, shortly 
stalked. Flowers shining, dull green or tinged with purple, soon 
deflexed, crowded in long, terminal, simple spikes elongating as 
the fruit forms ; bracts and bracteoles spinescent. Perianth stiff, 
scarious 5-parted ; segments lanceolate, acute. Stamens 5, 
alternate with 5 oblong staminodes and united with them at the 
base. Ovary oblong ; style long, stigma capitate. Fruit an 
oblong utricle enclosed by the perianth and containing a single 
seed. 
Leaves thick, leathery, not long-pointed. Spikes robust, up 
to 18 in. long . . . . . . . . . 1. A. aspera. 
Leaves thin, membranous, narrowed in a long, slender point. 
Spikes slender, rarely more than 4-5 in. long . . . 2. A. bidentata. 
1. Achyranthes aspera, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 730. Leaves 
usually thick, leathery, broadly ovate or orbicular, 3-5 x 2-3 in. 
Spikes robust, up to 18 in. long. 
Simla, common ; May-October. — Throughout India, ascending to 7000 ft. — • 
Most tropical regions. 
2. Achyranthes bidentata. Bl . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 730. Leaves 
thin, membranous, ovate-lanceolate, 3-6 x 1^-3 in., narrowed 
upwards in a long, slender point. Spikes slender, rarely more 
than 4-5 in. long. Staminodes minutely toothed at the tip. 
