XCI. URTICACEJE 
465 
10. LECAMTHTJS. From the Greek lekane, a dish, and anthos, 
a flower, referring to the shape of the floral receptacles.— India, 
China, Java, Africa. 
Succulent, pubescent herbs; stems ascending, base decum- 
bent and often rooting. Leaves opposite, stalked, unequal, ovate, 
toothed, 3 -nerved from the oblique base ; stipules united. 
Flowers minute, pink, 1-sexual, bracteolate, crowded on axillary, 
stalked, saucer-like receptacles bordered with involucral bracts ; 
male and female on separate receptacles borne on the same or on 
different plants. Male flowers : perianth 4- or 5-parted, segments 
nearly equal ; stamens 4 or 5. Female flowers : perianth 3- or 
4 -parted, segments nearly equal or very unequal, persistent; 
ovary straight ; stigma divided into a tuft of hair-like branches, 
not persistent. Achenes rough with microscopic tufts of white 
hairs. 
Stems 1-4 in. Receptacles in. diam 1. L. Wightii. 
Stems 12-24 in. Receptacles £-1^ in. diam. . . . 2. L. Wallichii. 
1. Lecanthus Wightii, Wedd. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 559, in part 
Stems 1-4 in., weak. Leaves J-l in. Receptacles in. diam., 
on stalks barely 1 in. long. Perianth of female flowers 3 -parted ; 
segments very unequal, one larger, hooded at the top, the other 
two flat. Achenes narrowly oblong, longer than the perianth, red. 
Simla, on old walls, etc. ; July-September. — Throughout India, ascending 
to 10,000 ft Africa. 
2. Lecanthus Wallichii, Wedd . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 559, under L. 
Wightii in part. Stems 12-24 in., robust. Leaves 2-4 in., tip 
long, tail-like. Receptacles J-1J in. diam., on stalks 2-12 in. 
long. Perianth of female flowers 4 parted ; segments nearly equal, 
hooded at the tip. Achenes ovoid, shorter than the perianth, 
purple -brown. 
Simla, the Glen ; July-September. — Throughout India, ascending to 10,000 
ft. — Ceylon, China. 
11. ELAT0STEMMA. From the Greek elatos, elastic, and 
stemon, a stamen ; referring to the stamens unrolling with a jerk 
as the flowers open. — Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old 
World. 
Pubescent or glabrous herbs ; stems unbranched. Leaves 
alternate or sometimes opposite and very unequal in size. 
Flowers minute, green, 1-sexual, and interspersed with minute 
bracteoles, crowded on the surface of axillary, fleshy, saucer-like 
receptacles . usually bordered with an involucre of bracts ; male 
and female borne on the same or on different plants. Male 
flowers: perianth 4-5-partedi; stamens 4-5. Female flowers: peri- 
anth 3-parted, segments unequal, persistent ; stigma resembling 
a sessile tuft of hairs. Achepes ovoid, flattened. 
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