XLIII. DATISCACE^ 
203 
XLIII. DATISCACE^E 
A very small Order inhabiting Asia, N. America and S.E. Europe ; 
represented in the N.W. Himalaya by a single species. 
DATISCA. Origin of name unknown. — W. Asia, California, 
Mexico. 
*Datisca cannabina, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 656. A glabrous 
herb ; stem erect, robust, 2-6 ft. ; branches flower-bearing, long. 
Stem-leaves alternate, pinnate (lower ones the larger), 6-12 in. ; 
leaflets 5-11, shortly stalked, lanceolate, 6 x in., coarsely 
toothed, tip long pointed, entire. Leaves of the branches alternate, 
linear-lanceolate, 1-3 in., toothed or entire ; stipules none. Flowers 
I- sexual, regular, male and female on different plants, yellow, 
small, shortly stalked, in numerous, axillary clusters. Male 
flowers : calyx-tube very short, limb 5-lobed ; petals none ; stamens 
II- 13, inserted on the calyx, anthers linear-oblong, 2-celled, nearly 
sessile. Female flowers : calyx-tube ovoid, obscurely 3 -angled, 
adnate to the ovary, limb 3-toothed; petals none; ovary inferior, 
1-celled ; styles 3, each divided nearly to the base in 2 linear 
stigmas ; ovules numerous, attached to 3 placentas on the cell- wall. 
Capsule oblong, ^ in., opening at the top ; seeds numerous, 
minute. 
Temperate Himalaya, Kashmir to Nepal, 1000-6000 ft. — W. Asia. 
Not yet recorded from the Simla region, but it may occur in the Sutlej or 
Giri valley. 
XLIV. FICOIDE^E 
A small Order, chiefly African, but scattered through most 
tropical and subtropical regions ; represented in the N.W. Hima- 
laya by a single species. — Name derived from the Latin ficus, a 
pustular swelling, referring to the numerous, shining vesicles on 
the leaves of some species of Mesembryanthemum and Aizoon. 
M0LLTJG0. The specific name of Galium Mollugo trans- 
ferred to this genus on account of the general resemblance between 
the plants. — Tropical and subtropical regions. 
Mollugo stricta, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 663. An annual, erect, 
glabrous, usually much branched herb, 4-12 in. high. Leaves 
