452 
XC. EUPHORBIACEiE 
9. PUTRANJIVA. From two Sanskrit words signifying the 
life of the child, referring to the stones of the fruit being worn as 
necklaces by children to preserve them from harm. — India. 
* Putranjiva Roxburghii, Wall . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 336. A tree ; 
young shoots and flowers pubescent, otherwise glabrous ; branches 
drooping. Leaves alternate, shortly stalked, dark green, oblong- 
ovate, 3-5 in., entire or toothed, base unequal, margins crimped, 
tip obtuse, acute or long-pointed. Flowers small, axillary, 
stalked, yellow, the male and female usually on different trees. 
Male flowers numerous, in dense, rounded clusters : calyx 3-5- 
parted, segments unequal ; stamens 3, filaments short, united at 
the base. Female flowers solitary or in pairs : calyx 5-6-parted, 
segments minute ; ovary 3-celled ; styles 3, short, spreading, 
dilated into broad, crescent-shaped, lobed stigmas. Drupe ovoid, 
f in. long, pointed, white-tomentose, 1 -celled ; stone hard, deeply 
wrinkled. 
Valleys of the outer hills ; March-May. — Throughout India, ascending to 
2500 ft. — Often cultivated. 
10. ACALYPHA. From the Greek name of the common 
nettle. — All tropical and subtropical regions. 
Weak, straggling, more or less pubescent herbs, having the 
aspect of nettles. Leaves alternate, long-stalked, ovate, pointed. 
Flowers minute, in short, axillary spikes, both sexes on the same 
spike. Male flowers few, in small, sessile' clusters towards the end 
of the spike, the summit being occupied by 1 or 2 abortive ones : 
sepals 4 ; disk none ; stamens usually 8, filaments free, short, anther- 
cells distinct, diverging, linear, often twisted ; rudimentary pistil 
none. Female flowers 1-3, rarely all fertile, sessile in the axils 
of conspicuous bracts placed below the male flowers : sepals 3-4 ; 
ovary 3-celled ; styles free, long, threadlike. Capsule concealed in 
the bracts ; cocci 3, seeds 3. 
Bracts of female flowers cut into 3 linear, entire segments 1. A. brachystacJiya. 
Bracts of female flowers orbicular, deeply fringed . . 2. A. ciliata. 
1. Acalypha brachystachya, Hornem. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 416. 
Stems 6-12 in. Leaves 1-3 in. crenate, base often cordate. Spikes 
a in., male portion very short. Bracts of the female flowers green, 
usually only 2 or 3, cut into 3 linear, entire, 1-nerved, obtuse, 
spreading lobes. Capsule roughly hairy. 
Simla ; July-October. — Temperate Himalaya, 4000-8000 ft. — S. India. — 
Java, Africa. 
2. Acalypha ciliata, Forsk . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 417. Stems 1-2 ft. 
Leaves 2-3 in., sharply toothed, often long-pointed. Spikes J in. 
Bracts of the female flowers pale coloured, usually 6-10, orbicular ; 
