XCI. URTICACEiE 
465 
10. LECANTHUS. From the Greek leJcane, 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 j in. diam. . .• . 1. L. Wightii. 
Stems 12-24 in. Receptacles £-l£ in. diam. . . .2. L. Wallichii. 
1. Lecanthus Wightii, Wedd. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 559, in part. 
Stems 1-4 in., weak. Leaves |-1 in. Receptacles J-J 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, &e. ; 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 |-1| 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. ELATOSTEMMA. 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-parted ; stamens 4-5. Female flowers : perianth 3-parted, 
segments unequal, persistent ; stigma resembling a sessile tuft 
of hairs. Achenes ovoid, flattened. 
2 H 
