12
THE INDIAN SPECIES OF ERIOCAULON
By P. F. Fyson, M.A., B.L.S.,
Presidency College, Madras.
(Continued from Vol. IX, p. 320.)
VII. CONNATO-SEPALAE.
Sepals of the female flower united as a calyx opening at the back, as in the males of most other species. Petals distinctly clawed, glabrous or hairy, with a gland inserted close inside the apical margin. Scapes usually ( ? always) many. Eeceptacle more or less hairy. Male flowers similar to other sections with black anthers.
Species about 10, nearly ail in Japan or China, one Himalayan and possibly one in Brazil.
45. E. alpestre Hooker et Thomson. (H. and T. coll. No. 58 in Herb. Calc. !); F.B.L vi 578, No. 23 ; Kuhl* No. 148. Stem short, leaves flat, tapering to a fine point, from 1/2 in. to 3 or 4 in. in vigor- ous specimens. Scapes numerous, slender. Involucral bracts glab- rous, pale obtuse, shorter than the floral. Eeceptacle convex, glab- rous, Female flowers :■ — Calyx spatheaceous, but showing partial divi- sion into three sepals. Claws of the petals nearly as long as the blades ; glands terminal. Male flowers : — Corolla lobes small, anthers black. Seeds oblong, light brown. Plate 42.
Himalayas ; Kumaon 3—4,000 ft. Sikkim 8— -13,000 ft ; Khasia 5,000 ft.
The connate sepals of the female flower mark this species as quite dis- tinct from ail other Indian ones, while the short rounded involucral bracts , the clawed petals and very densely tufted habit, though not unique, are very characteristic.
VIII. LEUCANTHERAE.
The anthers are yellow or white. Most of the species have the long narrow leaves of plants submerged in running water, but except that the female petals are rather broader and almost spathulate, nothing beside the anthers distinguish this group from the SIMPLICES sub-sect {a) (Vol. 1, p. 195.) Stems may be short or elongated. Heads 1/6-1/2 in.; involucral bracts pale or edged with black; receptacle glabrous. Floral bracts usually black, but covered with white hairs, which make the heads grey or white.
About 15 species, 5 African, 9 Indian, 1 Chinese.
