X.CI. URTICACEJl 4G7 
Valleys below Simla ; April-August.: — Nearly throughout India, ascending 
to 5000 ft. — Tropical Asia and Africa. 
In the FI. Br. Ind. this species is divided into nine varieties, of which the 
following two may be distinguished in Simla : — 
B. platyphylla proper. Leaves ovate, roughly wrinkled, tip pointed or 
narrowed in a short, tail-like point ; -teeth small and uniform. 
Var. rotundifolia. Leaves orbicular, nearly smooth, tip abruptly narrowed 
into a tail -like point sometimes an inch long ; teeth large, often unequal. 
The Rhea and ‘ China grass ’ fibres are obtained from varieties of B. nivea, 
a native of China and the Malay islands, believed to have been introduced into 
India in very early times. The cultivation of this plant, and the extraction of 
the fibre, have formed the subject of numerous experiments during recent 
years, but up to the present time without marked commercial success. 
13. P0UZ0LZIA. In honour of P. M. C. de Pouzolz, a French 
botanical author of the nineteenth century. — All tropical regions. 
Shrubs or herbs, very variable in habit and size, usually more 
or less roughly pubescent. Leaves undivided, 3-nerved from the 
base. Flowers small, 1-sexual, pale green, in axillary clusters ; the 
male and female in the same or in distinct clusters borne on the 
same or on different plants. Male flowers short-stalked : perianth 
4- or 5 -parted ; stamens 4 or 5. Female flowers sessile : perianth 
tubular, enclosing the ovary ; style long, linear, protruding, soon 
falling off. Fruit an achene, enclosed in the persistent, ribbed 
or winged perianth. 
Perianth of male flowers usually 4-parted. Stamens 4. 
Leaves alternate, toothed 1. P. viminea. 
Leaves opposite, entire 2. P. indica. 
Perianth of male flowers usually 5-parted. Stamens 5. 
Lower leaves opposite, the upper alternate and crowded 3. P. pentandra. 
Leaves all opposite, the upper not crowded . . . 4. P. hirta. 
*1. Pouzolzia viminea, Wedd . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 581. An erect 
shrub ; branches slender, straight. Leaves alternate, shortly 
slalked, lanceolate, 2-5 in., toothed, long-pointed, lower surface 
usually pale or white-tomentose. Flowers in small, dense, rounded 
clusters. Male perianth usually 4-parted ; stamens 4. Fruit 
angled and obscurely margined 
Valleys below 5000 ft., from Chamba to Assam ; June-September. — Sub- 
tropical Himalaya, Assam.— Malay islands. 
2. Pouzolzia indica, Gaud . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 581. A small 
herb, rarely exceeding 1 ft. ; stems half -prostrate ; branches slender, 
spreading. Leaves opposite, shortly stalked, ovate, \~1 in., entire, 
pointed. Flowers in small clusters. Male perianth usually 4- 
parted ; stamens 4. Fruit ribbed, sometimes winged. 
Valleys below Simla, usually on dry, rocky slopes ; June-September. — 
Throughout tropical and subtropical India, ascending to 5000 ft. — Tropical 
Asia. 
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