LXXIIT. ACANTHACE^ 
371 
*1. Hygrophila polysperma, T. Anders . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv,. 406. 
Procumbent, pubescent ; branches spreading, 6-12 in., rooting at 
the joints. Leaves lanceolate, H§ in. Flowers pale blue or 
white, in axillary and terminal spikes. Calyx 5-lobed. Corolla 
^ in. long, upper lip notched. Stamens 4, upper pair rudimentary. 
Capsule \ in. long ; seeds 20-30. 
Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. ; May, June. — Tropical Asia. 
*2. Hygrophila spinosa, T. Anders. ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 408. 
Erect, 2-5 ft., roughly hairy. Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceo- 
late, 3-6 x \-l in. Flowers pale or bright blue, sometimes tinged 
with pink, in axillary, spinous whorls ; spines J-IJ in., straight, 
sharp. Calyx 4-parted, upper segment largest. Corolla 1 in. 
long ; upper lip 2-lobed. Stamens 4. Capsule ^ in. long ; seeds 
4-8. 
Throughout India, common in ditches, ascending to 3000 ft. ; January- 
March. 
2. PETALXDIXJM. From the Greek petalos , broad, flat ; refer- 
ring to the conspicuous bracteoles. —India, Africa. 
*Petalidium barlerioides, Nees ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 416. An erect, 
finely pubescent shrub, 2-3 ft. Leaves shortly stalked, broadly 
ovate, 2-4 in., toothed, acute. Flowers pale blue or white, nearly 
sessile, axillary, solitary or in small clusters ; bracts none ; 
bracteoles ovate, 1 in. long, net-veined, acute, enclosing the lower 
part of the flowers. Calyx deeply 5-lobed ; lobes linear. Corolla 
1J-1^ in. long ; tube cylindric, hairy on the throat within ; limb 
spreading, 1^ in. across, 5-lobed, lobes nearly equal, rounded, 
minutely crenate. Stamens 4 ; base of anther-cells bristle-tipped. 
Style unequally 2-lobed ; ovules 2 in each cell. Capsule shortly 
stalked, ovoid, \ in. ; seeds usually only 2. 
Throughout India, chiefly in hilly districts, ascending to 3000 ft. ; January - 
April. 
3. DiEDALACAHTHUS. From the Greek dcedaleos , varie- 
gated, referring to the bracts, and Acanthus, an allied genus.. — 
India, Malaya. 
Dsedalacanthus nervosus, T. Anders . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 418. An 
erect, roughly pubescent shrub, 2-6 ft. Leaves shortly stalked, 
ovate, about 6 x3 in., entire, long-pointed. Flowers deep blue, 
crowded in numerous spikes 1-3 in. long, forming close, erect 
panicles ; bracts leaf-like, variegated green and white, oblong- 
ovate, long-pointed, enclosing the lower part of the flower ; bracte- 
oles shorter than the calyx. Calyx equally 5-lobed. Corolla 
lj in. long ; tube elongate, cylindric, dilated near the top ; limb 
oblique, spreading, £ in. across, lobes 5, nearly equal, rounded. 
B b 2 
