CHAPTER VIII DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS. 1. Carpel 1; leaves peltate; anthers connates, Leaves ovate-rotund,

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1 CHAPTER VIII DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS 1. MENISPERMACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Carpel 1; leaves peltate; anthers connates, Leaves ovate-rotund, reniform or subreniform, bracts of female flower foliaceous...cissampelous. 2. Carpel 3 or more, leaves not peltate, anthers free, inflorescene in small fascicles or cymose, droupes cm long, leaves ovate- triangular, ovate-deltoid, elliptic-obong or linear-oblong Cocculus. CISSAMPELOUS Linn. 1. Cissampelous pareira Linn. Cooke 1:24, FGS 53. Slender twiners, somewhat woody at base, glabrous but for pubescent younger parts. Leaves alternate, silky-pubuscent beneath, minutely mucronate at apex, petiolate. Flowers minute, greenish- yellow, males in 4-10 cm long, axillary panicles, females in 4-15 cm long, pendulous racemes. Drupes cm broad, nearly orbicular or ovoid, glabrescent or hairy. Flowers & Fruits: August to October COCCULUS A.P.De Candolle Nom. Cons 2. Cocculus hirsutus Linn. Cooke 1:22, FGS 54. Scandent, perennial, dioceous herbs, softly villous in younger parts. Leaves alternate, at length glabrous or nearly so. Flowers greenish-yellow, 179

2 in axillary, cymose clusters. Drupes transeversely rugose, deeo-purple when ripe. 2. NYMPHACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Leaves flat, sagittate or cordate at base floating on the surface of water, carpels connect into a many celled ovary.nymphaea 1. Leaves orbicular raised above the surface of the water, carpels sunk into the torus...nelumbo NELUMBO Adans. 3. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Cooke1:26; Saxton & Sedgwick243; FGS 57. Perennial rhizomatous herbs. Leaves orbicular, petiole green, glabrous petiolate. Flowers solitary, above water; thalamus 3-6 cm broad, fleshy. Fruits cm long ovoid, glabrous. In show lake. Flowers & Fruits: August- October NYMPHAEA L. Key to the species 1. Leaves irregularly sharply serrate on margins, lower surface pubscent, calyx 5-10 nerved, anther not appendage pubscens 1. Leaves margins sharply and irregularly sinuate-dentate, anthers not at all or very obscurely appendaged lamina densely pubescent beneath, sepals oblong 5-10 ribbed.nouchalii. 180

3 1. Leaves margins, entire or obscurely toothed, lamina glabrous beneath, anther appendaged, sepals oblong lanceolate not ribbed stellata 4. Nymphaea nouchali Burm. F.Fl. or Nymphaea lotus L. Cooke 1:25; Saxton & Sedgwick 243; FGS 57. Perennial, floating herbs. Leaves dark green, glabrous, subacute or obtuse, orbicular, petiole as the depth of water, pale green. Flowers white, solitary, above water, anthers linear. Fruits globose, greenish, fleshy, repening under water. Seeds minute, rough. Occasional found in ponds and ditches. Flowers: August- October 5. Nymphaea pubescens Willd. Cooke 1:25; Saxton & Sedgwick 243; FGS 57. Floating herbs. Leaves orbicular or reniform, prominently nerved beneath, glabrous and often punceate above. Flowers 6-8 cm long, creamy- white or pale- blue. Fruits globose, fleshy. Seeds ellipsoid, globose, transparent aril.throughout in ponds, ditches etc. Flowers: August- October, Fruits: September- November. 6. Nymphaea stellata Willd. Cooke 1:27; Saxton & Sedgwick 252; FGS 58. Floating herbs. Leaves as much broad as long, dark green, above, glabrous and reddish-purple, toothed. Flowers pale- blue or white, solitary. Fruits berry, globose, small. Seed longitudinally striate. Common in pond. Flowers & Fruits: September- October 181

4 3. PAPAVERACEAE ARGEMONE Linn. 7. Argemone mexicana Linn. Cooke 1:29; Saxton & Sedgwick 243; FGS 58. An erect herbs, with yellow latex. Stem glabrous, green, stout. Leaves radical and cauline, bluish green, sessile, spiny. flowers bright yellow, terminal, solitary. Fruits bluish- green when fresh, spinouse, straw coloured on drying. Seeds black, spherical, numerous, reticulate. Common in river beds and cultivated fields. Flowers & Fruits: November- June 4. BRASSICACEAE Key to Genera 1.Pods dehiscent. 2. Pods long narrow, rarely torulose, terete, or compound; replum broad 3. Flowers pale to bright-yellow; Pods appressed to or spresding from floral axis, 3-6 cm long; seeds in one row; stigmas free or bilobed...brassica. 2. Pods short and broad, replum narrow, seeds two...lepidium. BRASSICA Linn. 8. Brassica juncea L. Cook 1:37, FGS 61. Erect, cm tall, hispid herb, leaves radical and cauline, former cm, lyrately pinnatifid, cauline ones cm, oblong 182

5 lanceolate. Racemes cm long, terminal and axillary, fruits cm long, linear, seeds minutely pitted, rounded, blackish-brown. LEPIDIUM Linn. 9. Lepidium sativum Linn. Cooke 1:37; FGS 65. Slender, erect herbs. Leaves glabrous basale ones pinnatipartite, petiolate, linear and sessile. Flowers broad, white, terminal racemes. Pods broadly elliptic- oblong or ovate- oblong, glabrous. Seeds minute, oblong, reddishbrown, smooth, glabrous. Weed in cultivated fields during winter. Flowers & Fruits: January- April 5. CAPPARACEAE Key to Genera 1.Trees, shrubs or woody climbers, armed; stamens 6 or more, free; disc absent; berries round, ellipsoid or ovoid, indehiscent.capparis. 1. Herbs, ovary, sessile, seldom on a gynophores; fruit a capsule Cleaome. Key to species 1 Plants leafless, when leaves present minute, caduceus; flowers red or scarlet decidua. 1. Plants leafy, flowers white, creamy yellow or with purple tinge.sepiaria. 183

6 CAPPARIS Tourn. Ex L. 10. Capparis decidua forsk. Cooke 1:19, FGS cm tall, armed, busy shrubs, with corky, greyish-white, longitudinally fissured bark. Leaves only on young shoots, linear-oblong, spinous-tipped, nearly sessile, glabrous. Flowers red or scarlet, in short corymb. Fruits cm across, almost spherical, smooth, glabrous, red when ripe. Flowers and Fruits: Feb- Sep 11. Capparis sepiaria L. Cooke 1:47, FGS 69. Stout, armed shrubs, with brown, rough, longitudinally fissured bark in older parts. Leaves cm, ovate to oblong oe elliptic, glabrous. Flowers white, 8-20, pedicillate, in axillary and terminal umbels. Fruits smooth, glabrous, dark-violet-purple or almost black when ripe. Flowers and Fruits : Feb to June CLEOME Linn. 1. Androgynophore longer than 5 mm long: Flowers dirty white or creamy- white...gynandra 1. Androgynophore none: Flowers yellow...viscosa 12. Cleome gynandra Linn. Cooke 1:40; Saxton & Sedgwick 244; FGS 72. Annual herbs erect, cm tall, branched from the middle. Stem and branches terete, faintly striate glabrous, pubscent in younger parts, at length glabrous often reddish purple. Leaves digitately 3-5 foliolate, alternate, culminating into small bracts subtending. Flowers at ends of 184

7 branches, middle one leaflet largest, all elliptic- obovate or ellipticlanceolate, glandular hairy, bracts folioaceous, sessile 3-5 foliolate. Flowers white or creamy white in terminal corymbs, glandular pubescent, slender, reddish purple. Fruits cylindrical smooth, dark green, on drying straw coloured, viscidly pubescent. Fairly common at times gregarious in moist places. Flowers & Fruits: October- April 13. Cleome viscosa Linn. Cooke 1:39; Saxton & Sedgwick 243; FGS 73. Annual, foetid herbs, erect. Stem and branches yellowish- green, viscidly pubscent. Leaves alternate, 3-5 foliolate, terminal leaflet largest ellipticoblong or obovate, glabrous to glabrescent above, sessile or very shortly petiolate, acute petiole cm long, glandular pubescent. Flowers leman- yellow, tinged purple at base, axillary, solitary, apparently terminating into lax racemes at ends of branches by the suppression of subtending leaves, peduncle glandular hairy. Capsules cylindrical dark green, striate, viscidly and abundant. Fairly common and abundant in grasslands, cultivated fields and in sandy soil of river beds. Flowers & Fruits: July- November 185

8 6. CARYOPHYLLACEAE POLYCARPAEA Lamk. 14. Polycarpaea corymbosa Linn. Cooke 1:66; Saxton & Sedgwick 245; FGS 82. Slender, erect herbs, ascending branches. Stem and branches terete, jointed at nodes, pale green, faintly striate, appressedly pubescent in younger parts, glabrescent in older. Leaves 1- nerved, narrowly linear, glabrous, mucronate, narrowed at base, stipule glabrous, scurious, lanceolate, shortly acute at apex. Flowers numerous, bright pink when fresh, at length silvery white in tereminal, much branched, dichotomous, corymbose cymes. Capsules very small, shining, brown, covered with persistent scurious sepals. A common in river bed and weed in cultivated fields in the later half of monsoon. Flowers & Fruits: August- November 7. PORTULACEAE PORTULACA Linn. Key to the Species 1.Nodal appendages absent..... oleracea 1. Nodal appendages hairy: 2. Leaves opposite, lanceolate or ovate; flowers solitary...quadrifida 2. Leaves alternate, linear or cylindric... grandiflora 186

9 15. Portulaca grandiflora Hook. FGS 85. Succulent, procumbent or prostrate herbs, branches glabrous, fleshy, rooting at lower nodes. Leaves linear- lanceolate, sessile, glabrous, fleshy, subacute at apex. Flowers purple or pink, in terminal. Fruits dehiscing transversely. Seeds reniform, black, tubercled. Found in river beds and moist ground along margins of lake. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 16. Portulaca oleracea Linn. Cooke 1:68; Saxton & Sedgwick 246; FGS 86. Procumbent or prostrate herbs, branches terete, glabrous, smooth. Stem and branches redish- purple. Leaves fleshy, sessile or subsessile, flashy, green or reddish purple. Flowers yellow, axillary, solitary or terminal. Fruits conical. Seed many, dark brown, minute. Common in river beds and in moist ground along margins of ponds. Flowers & Fruits: During the greater part of the year 17. Portulaca quadrifida Linn. Cooke 1:68; Saxton & Sedgwick 246; FGS 86. Radially spreading, slender herbs, rooting at nodes, glabrous, hairs at nodes, reddish- purple. Leaves opposite, fleshy, glabrous, subsessile, or spathulate or lanceolate to ovate- lanceolate. Flowers solitary, terminal, yellow. Fruits conical, glabrous. Seeds black, small, minutely tubeculate. Common in river beds and in moist ground along margins of ponds. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 187

10 8. ELATINACEAE BERGIA Linn. Key to the Species 1.Glabrous, herbs...capensis 1. Glandular- hairy herbs or under shrubs. 2. Stem at least in lower parts woody, stamens 10...odorata 2. Stem not woody, stamens 5...ammanioides 18. Bergia ammannioides Roxb. Cooke 1:73; Saxton & Sedgwick 252; FGS 90. Erect, prostrate, slender herbs, glandular, hairy. Leaves glandular- hairy, sessile, oblanceolate or elliptic- oblong. Flowers in axillary fascicles, sub sessile. Fruits glabrous ovoid. Seeds oblong, minute, dark- brown, reticulate, curved. Common in moist regions. Flowers & Fruits: August- October 19. Bergia capensis Linn. Cooke 1:74; FGS 90. Annual, erect or ascending. Stem rooting at lower nodes, glabrous, fleshy. Leaves elliptic lanceolate or oblong lanceolate, minutely serrate, glabrous. Flowers axillary fascicles, red.fruits globose, broad, and glabrous. Common in moist regions. Flowers & Fruits: August- October 20. Bergia odorata Edgew. Journ. Cooke 1:73; Saxton & Sedgwick 246; FGS 90. Herb or under shrubs, diffuse or erect, prostrate, glandular, pubescent, dark- brown, smooth. Leaves elliptic- oblong, sessile, acute. Flowers axillary, bright pink, solitary. Fruits 5 celled, glabrous, globose. Seeds minute, shining, many. Common in cultivated fields and in waste place. Flowers & Fruits: Almost all round the year. 188

11 9. MALVACEAE Key to Genera 1. Epicalyx absent. 2. Shrubs or undershrubs, 1-2 m tall, ripe carpels 5 or more, each carpel 2- more-seeded, fruit a carcerule.abutilon. 2. Herbs or undershrubs, erect or diffuse, cm tall; ripe carpels 5-10, each carpel one seeded fruit not a carcerule ISida. 1. Epicalyx 3, large, persistant.gossypium. 21. Abutilon indicum Linn. Cooke 1:102, FGS cm tall, grey tomentose undershrubs, leaves cm, broadly ovate or suborbicular, entire, seldom shallowly 3-lobbed, hairy, petiolate. Flowers bright yellow cm across, axillary, solitary. Fruit cm across, apressed-hairy, ripe carpels 15-20, cm long. Seeds reniform, blackish-brown, minutely pitted and stellate-hairy. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 22. Gossypium herbaceum L. var. acerifolium Cooke 1:123, FGS cm tall shrubs or underdhrubs. Leaves cm, 3-7-lobbed, broadly ovate, stellate hairy, petiolate. Flowers yellow with a purple base within, axillary, solitary or 2-3 fascicled. Capsule cm long, ovoidconical, valves 3-4, woody, cuspidate. Seeds light-black, reniform, whitecottony. Flowers & Fruits: Oct. to Apr. 189

12 SIDA Linn. Key to Species 1. Leaves lanceolate, rhomboidal or obovate, glabrous, hairy or grey tomentose beneath, carpelllary awns distinct...acuta. 1. Leaves obtuse or subacute ay apex; petiole with 1-3 recurved spines at base.alba. 1. Leaves acute or slightly acuminate at apex, petiole without spinous tubercles at base..cordata. 23. Sida acuta Burm. Cooke 1:98, FGS cm tall undershrubs, stellatery hairy in younger parts. Leaves cm, sessile or nearly so. Flowers yellow or pale-orange, axillary, solitary or 2-3 fascicled, fruit cm. globose, carpels 6-8, cuneate, glabrouse, reticulate, pale- brown seeds cuneate, dark-brown or blackish brown, smooth, glabrous. Flowers & Fruits: Aug-Feb 24. Sida alba Linn. Cooke 1:98, FGS cm tall undershrubs, stellately hairy or grey tomentose in younger parts. Leaves cm, ovate, ovate-oblong or ovate-elliptic, glabrous or nearly so above, grey tomentose beneath, petiolate. Flowers cm across, yellow or seldom white, axillary, solitary and crowded at ends of branches. Fruita cm across, globose or nearly so; rip carpels 5, glabrous, dorsally rounded, ventrally reticulate. Flowers & Fruits: Aug to Dec 190

13 25. Sida cordata Burm. F. Cooke 1:97, FGS 114. Perennial, patently hairy herbs. Leaves cm, membranous, ovate, appressed-hairy on both surfaces.flowers yellow, axillary, solitary or germinate and clustered at the end of branches. Fruit cm across, globose;ripe carpels 5, cm long, finely hairy, cuneate. Seeds brown, glabrous, smooth. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year. 10. TILIACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Petals foveolate or glandular at base; fruits in dehiscent spherical or subsperical, not elongate...triumfetta 1. Petals not foveolate or glandular at base, fruits dehiscent, elongate or if spherical then clearly warted...corchorus CORCHORUS Linn. Key to the species 1. Capsule depressed globose, warty, without beak; valves woody...capsularis 1. Capsule longer than broad, beaked; beak entire or 3- partite: valves thin: 2. Capsule winged, beak trifid...aestuans 2. Capsule 10 ribbed, beak entire...olitorius 191

14 26. Corchorus capsularis Linn. Cooke 1:157; Saxton & Sedgwick 250; FGS 127. Erect, glabrous herbs or under shrubs. Leaves ovate- lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers yellow, axillary or extra axillary, solitary or 2-3 fascicled. Capsule green, black on drying, warty. Seeds wedge- shaped, smooth, glabrous, deep- brown or blackish-brown. Common in river bed. Flowers & Fruits: September- December 27. Corchorus aestuans Linn. Cooke 1:150; Saxton & Sedgwick 251; FGS 126. Diffuse herbs, almost glabrous in older. Leaves hairy, serrate, broadly ovate, acute, stipules subulate. Flowers yellow, small, axillary or leaf opposed. Fruits 3- winged. Seeds brownish- black. Common weed in open grass lands and river beds. Flowers & Fruits: August- December 28. Corchorus olitorius Linn. Cooke 1:149; Saxton & Sedgwick 250; FGS 128. Erect, under shrubs. Stem and branches greenish- brown. Leaves ovate or ovate- lanceolate, glabrous, acute or acuminate. Flowers solitary or 2-3 fascicled, axillary or extra axillary, yellow. Fruits cylindrical, ribbed, 4-5 valved, beak entire. Seeds angular, dark- brown. Rare in moist ground of lake. Flowers & Fruits: August- November 192

15 TRIUMFETTA Linn. 29. Triumfetta rotundifolia Lamk. Encycle. Cooke 1:148; Saxton & Sedgwick 250; FGS 135. Erect suffruticose herbs. Stem and branches stellately hairy. Leaves broadly ovate or beneath, serrate, rounded or obscurely subacute at apex, rounded at base, petiole stellately hairy. Flowers yellow, in dense fascicled cymes, interrupted racemes. Fruits globose with pubescent hooked spines. Common scattered on the banks of rivers. Flowers & Fruits: August- November 11. ZYGOPHYLLACEAE TRIBULUS Linn. 30. Tribulus terrestris Linn. Cooke 1:160; Saxton & Sedgwick 251; FGS 140. A diffuse, annual or biennial herbs often with radially spreading branches, faintly striate, appressed silky hairy. Leaves paripinnate, stipulate, opposite or alternate by the suppression of one member of each pair, leaflets sessile or subsessile, linear oblong, opposite, glabrous above appressedly villous beneath acute and minutely mucronate at apex, rounded and slightly oblique at base. Flowers; lemon- yellow, solitary, axillary or supraaxillary, shortly pedunculate. Cocci 4-5, woody, glabrous, each coccus cm across, with two short and two long sharp, divavicate spines. Common in cultivated fields, river beds and on the slopes of ravines. Flowers & Fruits: July- December 193

16 12. OXALIDACEAE OXALIS Linn. 31. Oxalis corniculata Linn. Cooke 1:177; Saxton & Sedgwick; FGS 141. Annual or perennials, with radially spreading branches. Leaves petiolate, glabrous or nearly so; leaflets obovate, sparsely appressed- hairy or nearly glabrous, sessile. Flowers yellow, sub umbellate, on axillary peduncle. Capsule beaked, glabrescent. Seeds brown or reddish-brown, ovoid or ellipsoid, transversely ridged. Throughout in moist places and cultivated fields. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 13.SIMAROUBIACEAE AILANTHUS Desf. nom.cons. 32. Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Cooke 1:205, FGS m tall, deciduous trees, with greenish-white or grey, smooth bark, leaves cm long, crowded at ends of branches, leaflets 9-29 subopposite, cm, ovate-lanceolate,coriaceous, densely pilose, at length glabrous. Flowers yellow, in cm long, terminal and axillary, hairy panicles. Samara cm, spindle-shaped, glabrous, one seeded, reticulately veined. Seeds glabrous, oblong. Flowers: Dec-Mar Fruits: Feb-May 194

17 14. BALANITACEAE 33. Balanites aegyptiaca Linn. Cooke 1:207, FGS 146. Armed, deciduous, bushy shrubs or small trees, m tall. Leaves 2- foliolate, petiolate, leaflets cm. elliptic-oblong or obovate to oblong, glaucous-green, pubescent. Flowers pale-greenish-yellow, in axillary, fascicled cymes. Drupes cm, ovoid, yellowish-green when ripe. 15. MELIACEAE Key to Genera Flowers white, drupe one-loculate, one-seeded, disc absent Azadirachta. Flowers lilac, seldom yellow or creamy-yellow, drupes 5-loculate, each locule 1-seeded by reduction, disc present...melia. AZADIRACHTA A.Juss. 34. Azadirachta indica A.Juss. Cooke 1:220, FGS m tall, evergreen trees, with light-black, slightly longitudinally furrowed bark. Leaves cm long, crowded near ends of branches, leaflets 7-17, cm, falcate, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers white, in cm long panicles, axillary or on old wood. Drupes cm, ovoid-oblong, smooth, yellow. Seed hard, ellipsoid, glabrous. Flowers: Dec.-Mar. Fruits: Jan-May 195

18 MELIA Linn. 35. Melia azedarach Linn. Cooke 1:218, FGS m tall, deciduous trees, with dark-brown, shallowely longitudinally furrowed bark. Leaves 1-3 pinnate, cm long, leaflets 3-13, cm, ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, subsessile. Flowers in 7.25 cm long, axillary panicles. Drupes cm across, ellipsoid-oblong, yellow, 4-5 seeded. 16. FABACEAE Key to the Genera 1.Plants shrubs...desmodium 1. Plants under shrubs: 2. Flowers yellow: 3. Leaves 3- foliolate: 4. Pods falcate or of 2-4 spirals..medicago 4. Pods not as above...psoralea 3. Leaflets pairs, Tetragonous...Sesbania 2. Flowers purple or reddish purple: 5. Pods jointed...desmodium 5. Pods continous, dehiscent...tephrosia 1. Plants herbs: 6. Stamens 5+5, Prolonged belowtheir insertion...aescynomene 6. Stamens

19 7. Leaflets 1- foliolate, joints of pods turgid...alysicarpus 7. Leaflets 1 or 3, pods jointes flattened...desmodium 7. Leaflets , pods not jointed, turgid, linear...indigofera AESCHYNOMENE Linn. 36. Aeschynomene indica Linn. Cooke 1:340; Saxton & Sedgwick 258; FGS 177. An erect herb. Stem glabrous, pale green. Leaves alternate, leaflets pairs, oblong, obtuse and apiculate, glabrous, lanceolate. Flowers axillary, lax racemes, yellow. Fruits 4-9 jointed, glabrous, stalked, greenish brown or pale brown. Common in moist ground along margins of ponds and river beds. Flowers & Fruits: August- November ALYSICARPUS Desv. 37. Alysicarpus monilifer Linn. Cooke 1:345; Saxton & Sedgwick 258; FGS 180. Prostrate herbs with radially spreading branches. Stem and branches densely hairy in younger parts at length glabrous. Leaves elliptic- oblong, abovate, glabrous above, more or less hairy on nerves and prominently articulately veined beneath, rounded and minutely mucronate at apex, rounded or subcordate at base, petioles hairy. Flowers bright pinkish- 197

20 purple in axillary and terminal racemes. Pods moniliform hairy, 3-8 jointed. Common among grasses in waste lands and in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: August- November DESMODIUM DC. 38. Desmodium triflorum Linn. Cooke 1:355; Saxton & Sedgwick 259; FGS 210. Prostrate or trailing herbs. Stem slender, hairy rooting at nodes, sparsely hairy. Leaves 3 foliolate, obcordate, glabrous, hairy, obtuse, petiole slender. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2-3 fascicled, bright purple. Fruits jointed, laterally compressed Seeds curved, pubescent, smooth, greenishbrown. Common forming dense mats in moist places along ponds and in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: August- December INDIGOFERA Linn. 39. Indigofera glandulosa Roxb. Cooke1:311; Saxton & Sedgwick 256; FGS 221. An erect herbs. Stem hairy in younger parts. Leaflets obovate or oblanceolate, hairy obtuse, sessile. Flowers in axillary clusters, red. Pods brown, angled, winged, brown. Seen only in the river bed. Flowers & Fruits: August- September MEDICAGO Linn. Key to species 198

21 1. Pods minute, sickle-shaped, 1- seeded, unarmed; stipules laciniate...lupulina 1. Pods of 2-4 spiral, 4-8-seedes; stipules not laciniate......polymorpha 40. Medicago lupulina Linn. Cooke 1:326; Saxton & Sedgwick; FGS 229. Annual, creeping or suberect herbs. Leaves 3-foliolate, petiolate; obovate or elliptic-obovate, inciso-crenate on margins. Flowers minute, in axillary, compact, spicate racemes. Among grasses along margins of pond. Flowers & Fruits: January-February 41. Medicago polymorpha Linn. Cooke 1:327; FGS 229. Prostrate or suberect, glabrous or sparsely hairy, annual herbs. Leaves 3 foliolate, petiolate, oblong, denticulate. Flowers yellow, few, in lax, umbellate heads on cm long, wair, glabrous peduncle. Among grasses along margins of pond. Flowers & Fruits: January-February PSORALEA Linn. 42. Psoralea corylifolia Linn. Cooke 1:341; FGS 236. Erect herbs, pubscent, often nigro-punctate. Leaves broadly ovate-elliptic to lamost orbicular, inciso-dentate, pubescent. Flowers axillary, solitary, or few in 2-5 cm long, dense racemes. Pods ovoid-oblong, somewhat compressed, glabrous, blackish. Seeds glabrous, smooth, black.seen in moist places of lake. Flowers & Fruits: August-March 199

22 SESBANIA Scop. 43. Sesbania bispinosa Jacq. Cooke 1:350; Saxton & Sedgwick 257; FGS 241. Annual or biennial, undershrub, glabrous, red to reddish purple. Leaves alternate or subopposite, sessile, linear- oblong, glabrous. Flowers yellowpurple, axillary and terminal, racemes. Pods cylindrical, torulose, sharply beaked, glabrous. Common in cultivated fields. Flowers & Fruits: August- November TEPHROSIA Pers. 44. Tephrosia purpurea Linn. Cooke 1:325; Saxton & Sedgwick 257; FGS 249. An erect, undershrubs. Stem terete, striate, grey, glabrous. Leaves ellipticlanceolate or obovate- oblong, hairy, obtuse, glabrous. Flowers racemes, bright violet to purple. Fruits flat, hairy. Common in alluvial soil in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 17. CAESALPINIACEAE Key to Genera 1. Leaves bipinnate. 2. Flowers in racemes or panicles: 3. Sepals imbricate Caesalpinia 3. Sepals valvate Delonix 1. Leaves simply pinnate: 200

23 4. Petals 6; stamens 10, all fertile or 3-5 sterile..cassia 4. Petals 3; fertile stamens 3.Tamarindus CAESALPINIA Linn. 45. Caesalpinia pulcherrima Linn. Cooke 1:440, FGS m tall shrubs, bark greyish brown, rough. Leaves cm long, alternate; pinnate 4-9 pairs; leaflets, 8-12 pairs cm, sessile, oblong, rarely obovate. Flowers yellow or reddish-yellow, in 8-30 cm long, terminal racemes. Pods cm, broadly linear, flat, glabrescent. Seeds 8-10, obovate-oblong, smooth, glabrous. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year CASSIA Linn. Key to the species 1. Flowers red or pink. 2. Fertile stamens 20, pods 30 cm 0r more long, cylindric. 3. Filaments swollen in the middle..javanica 1. Flowers yellow fistula 2. Fertile stamens 6-7, pods not more than 30 cm long, narrowly linear or lanceolate siamea 4. Leaflet pairs 3, leaflets obovate, stipules linear subulate, herbs or undershrubs tora 4.Leaflet pairs 8-12, leaflets elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, stipules foliaceous, auricled, shrubs.auriculata. 201

24 5. Glands solitaryon rachis but not between pairs of leaflets, leaflets 3-5 pairs occidentalis. 5. Rachis without gland, leaflets obovate or oblong italica 46. Cassia auriculata Linn. Cooke 1:448, FGS 268. Erect bushy shrubs, 1-2 m tall, Leaves cm long, leaflets cm, glabrous above, pubescent beneath. Flowers yellow with orange veins, in axillary and terminal, 6-8 cm long racemes, pods cm, linear, flat and pale to dark brown, beaked, Seeds laterally compressed. Flowers & Fruits: throughout the year 47. Cassia fistula Linn. Cooke 1:444, FGS m tall, deciduous trees, with bark dark-brown and rough in older parts, grey and smooth in younger parts. Leaves cm long, leaflets 4-8 pairs, cm, ovate or elliptic-ovate, glabrous above glabrescent beneath, subcoriaceous, petiolutate. Flowers bright to golden-yellow in cm long, lax, pendent, branched racemes. Pods cm long, darkblackish-brown, with faint horizontal veins. Seeds ovate or ellipsoidal, glabrous, smooth. Flowers & Fruits: Sep-Oct 202

25 48. Cassia italica Mill. Cooke 1:421; Saxton & Sedgwick 262; FGS 269. An annual herbs, glabrous, pale green, striate. Leaves glabrous, opposite, leaflet 3-5 pairs. Flowers few in axillary and terminal, racemes, yellow. Pods flat, glabrous, curved, with persistent style base at apex. Pod is very typical of this plant. Common in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: June- January 49.Cassia javanica Linn. FGS m tall trees, with grey or greyish-brown, nearly smooth bark. Leaves cm long, stipules 1-2 cm long,semilunar, leaflets pairs, cm, elliptic-oblong, softly sparsely hairy. Pods darkbrown, glabrous, pendent. Flowers: Mar.-May Fruits: Apr.-July 50. Cassia siamea Lam. Cooke 1:454, FGS mtall trees, with light blackish brown, rough, longitudinally fissured bark. Leaves 6-25 cm long, leaflets 4-14 pairs, cm, coriaceous, ovate-oblong or elliptic-oblong, minutely petiolulate. Flowers pale yellow, cm across, in terminal, 5-10 cm long, branched racemes. Pods cm, blackish-brown, compressed, reticulate, somewthat constricted between seeds, stoutly beaked. Seeds flat,darkbrown, smooth, glabrous. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year. 203

26 51. Cassia occidentalis Linn. Cooke 1:420; Saxton & Sedgwick 261; FGS 271. Erect, shrubs or under shrubs, glabrous, reddish- brown. Leaves glandular at base, glabrous, 3-5 pairs, ovate- lanceolate, entire. Flowers yellow with reddish, in terminal and axillary. Fruits linear- oblong, glabrous, compressed, reddish- brown to dark purple in middle. Seeds smooth, glabrous, sub cylindric, greenish- brown. Common in margins of ponds. Flowers & Fruits: August-June 52. Cassia tora Linn. Cook 1:420; Saxton & Sedgwick 261; FGS 274. Annual herbs, glabrescent. Leaves rachis long, leaflets 3 pairs glaucous, hairy. Flowers tinger red or yellow, paired on condensed, axillary, racemes. Pod narrowly linear, torulous, glabrous. Common in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: August- November DELONIX Raf. 53. Delonix regia (Boj.) Raf. Cooke 1:442, FGS m tall, deciduous trees, with grey to pale-brown bark. Leaves 8-30 cm long; pinnate 8-30 pairs; leaflets pairs, cm, oblong, glabrous or nearly so. Flowers cm across, in 8-20 cm long, terminal, simple or branched racemes. Pods cm, broadly lineae, woody, dark-brown or reddish-brown, flat, beaked. Seeds oblong, glabrous, smooth, white or creamy-white, mottled brown. Flowers: March-July Fruits: Apr-Aug. 204

27 TAMARINDUS Linn. 54.Tamarindus indica Linn. Cooke 1:457, FGS 278. A large, evergreen tree, m tall, bark dark-grey or light-black, rough, longitudinally fissured. Leaves 4-10 cm long, leaflets 6-12 pairs, cm, linear-oblong, subcoriaceous, glabrous. Flowers yellow, with purple streaks, in 2-4 cm long, lax racemes. Pods cm, subtorulose, somewhat falcate, linear to oblong, with rough, fibrous, grey epicarp. Seeds dark-chocolate-brown, polished, smooth, glabrous, rhomboidal truncate at base. Flowers: Mar.-July Fruits: Apr-Nov. 18. MIMOSACEAE Key to Genera 1. Stamens definite, Flowers in globose heads 3. Flowers pink; pods armed with weak prickles; flowers tetramerous; stamens 4 Mimosa. 2. Flowers not in heads or spike 4. Trees armed; pods turgid, cylindric or oblong, not leathery, torulose, straight, falcate or twisted; seeds flate, ovoid or oblong, palebrown prosopis 1. Stamens indefinite 205

28 2. Mostly armed trees, shrubs or woody climbers, flowers in heads or spikes forming panicles. 3. Flowers yellow tocreamy-white...acacia. 2. Unarmed trees; flowers in globose heads: 3. Flowers greenish-white.albizia ACACIA Mill Key to species 1. Pods tortulose nilotica 1. Pods not tortulose farnesiana. 55. Acacia farnesiana Linn. Cooke 1:473, FGS 282. Shrubs or small trees, armed. leaves cm long, bipinnate; pinnate 4-8 pairs, cm long; leaflets pairs, cm,linearoblong, glabrous or thinly pubescent. Heads yellow, 0,6-1 cm across, fragrant. Pods 5-8 cm long, subcylindric, black, striate, glabrous. Flowers & Fruits: Aug-Mar. 56. Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. Subsp. indica Cooke 1:472, FGS m tall, straight or crooked, armed trees, with dark-blackish-brown, irregularly, longitudinally fissured bark.leaves cm long; pinnae 4-8 pairs; leaflets pairs, minute, linear-oblong, glabrous. Heads yellow, in axillary panicles. Pods cm, linear-oblong, glaucous-green, jointed, joints nearly orbicular, compressed, minutely hairy. Seeds brownish-black, oblong, compressed, smooth, glabrous. Flowers: July to Oct. Fruits: Aug.-Dec. 206

29 ALBIZIA Durazz. 57. Albizia lebbeck Linn m tall trees. Leaves 8-15 cm long; leaflets cm, subsesile, elliptic-oblong or obovate, coriaceous, pubescent beneath. Heads solitary or 2-3 fascicled in upper axils. Pods oblong or elliptic-oblong, glabrous, much compressed, slightlytumid and reticulate above seeds. Seeds 4-12, spherical or slightly reniform, smooth, glabrous, yellowish brown. Flowers: July-Oct. Fruits: Oct.-Mar PROSOPIS Linn. 1.trees with pendent, seldom scandent, dark-green, smooth branches, leaflets pairs, pods compressed.julifera. 1.trees with compact branches, branches rough, not dark-green, leaflets 7-12 pairs, pods cylindric cineraria 58. Prosopis cineraria Linn. Cooke 1:467, FGS 292. An armed tree, 5-10 m tall, with rough, yellowish or greyish brown bark. Leaves bipinnate, cm long, leaflets cm, oblong, apressed- hairy. Flowers yellow, in 4-9 cm long, slender, axillary, simple or branched spikes. Pods 5-15 cm long, pendent, subtorulose, glabrous. Seeds ovoid-oblong, subcompressed, shining, wrinkled. Flowers & Fruits: Oct.-June. 59. Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Prodr. FGS 293. Armed shrubs or small trees. Leaves bipinnate, pinnate 4-6 cm long, leaflets cm, sessile, oblong, and glabrous. Flowers yellow, 207

30 in 2-8 cm long, axillary, pendent spikes. Pods cm, pendent, slightly curved. MIMOSA Linn. 60. Mimosa pudica L. Cooke 1:470; FGS 290. Softly hairy and heavily armed, prostrate, diffuse or suberect or undershrubs. Leaves digitate; pinnae 2 pairs, 4-8 cm long; leaflets 8-20 pairs, cm long, linear-oblong, hairy beneath. Heads axillary, solitary and in short, terminal racemes, pods compressed, somewhat falcate, dark-brown, hispid. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 19.TRAPACEAE TRAPA Linn. 61. Trapa natuns Linn. var. bispinosa (Roxb) Cooke 1:518; Saxton & Sedgwick 266; FGS 314. Floating herbs. Leaves ovate, triangular or rhomboidal, dark green, petiole hairy, reddish- purple, swollen near apex. Flowers small, white, axillary, solitary. Fruits broad, 4- angled, angles spinescent, black, glabrous. One seeded. Common in pond. Flowers & Fruits: November- January 20. VAHLIACEAE VAHLIA Thunb. 62. Vahlia digyna Retz. Cooke 1:463; Saxton & Sedgwick 253; FGS 294. Erect herbs, branches opposite, glandular, pubescent. Leaves ellipticlanceolate, opposite, sessile, hairy, acute, entire. Flowers axillary, solitary, sessile, yellow. Fruits glandular, hairy, pale straw coloured. Seeds many. Common in river beds. 208

31 Flowers & Fruits: October- December 21. LYTHRACEAE AMMANNIA Linn. Key to the species 1. Leaves tapering at base seldom basal lobes auricled, but petals and style absent...senegalensis 1. Leaves cordate at base, basal lobes auriculate; petals present; style distinct: 2. Style distinct, petals distinct... multiflora 2. Style absent or nearly so, petals 0 or very small baccifera 63. Ammannia baccifera Linn. Cooke 1:509; Saxton & Sedgwick 265; FGS 354. Annual, erect herbs. Stem and branches glabrous. Leaves opposite, sessile, linear- oblong or linear- lanceolate, acute. Flowers red, minute, axillary, clusters, in dense. Fruits red, glabrous. Seeds obovate, brown, minute. Common in moist places along margins of ponds and river beds. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 64. Ammannia multiflora Roxb. Cooke 1:509; Saxton & Sedgwick 265; FGS 306. Annual herbs. Stems and branches tetra gonous, glabrous. Leaves sessile, linear, opposite, glabrous, acute. Flowers red, pedicellate, minute, in 209

32 axillary cymes. Fruits glabrous with persistent style red. Seeds numerous, minute, smooth, red. Common in margins of ponds, river bed in winter season. Flowers & Fruits: September- January 65. Ammannia senegalensis Lam. Saxton & Sedgwick 266; FGS 306. Erect glabrous herbs. Leaves opposite, linear-oblong or lanceolate, glabrous, sessile.flowers bright-red or pinkish-red, in axillary much branched, pedunculate cymes. Capsule globose, red. Seeds minute, yellowish-brown, hemispherical, excavated on one side. Rare in moist ground. Flowers & Fruits: October-December 22. ONAGRACEAE LUDWIGIA Linn. Key to the species 1. Plants aquatic, with floats...abscendens 1. Plants terrestrial...parviflora 66. Ludwigia adscendens Linn. Cooke 1:516; Saxton & Sedgwick 266; FGS 313. Creeping or floating, herbs, white, spongy floate. Leaves glabrous, oblong or oblong-obovate rounded at apex, petioles glabrous. Flowers solitary, axillary, pale yellow. Fruits glabrescent or glabrous. Common floating on the margins of river beds. Flowers & Fruits: November- March 210

33 67. Ludwigia parviflora Roxb. Cooke 1:517; Saxton & Sedgwick 566; FGS 313. Annuals, diffuse or erect. Leaves lanceolate or glabrous. Flowers yellow, solitary, axillary. Fruits straw coloured or brown. Seeds minute, numerous, brown, glabrous, smooth. Common in moist stony or alluvial soil of river beds and drying puddles. Flowers & Fruits: August- January 23. AIZOACEAE TRIANTHEMA Linn. 68.Trianthema monogyna Linn. Cooke 1:589, FGS 338. Subsucculent, prostrate, often rapidially spreading herbs. Leaves cm, subopposite, obovate to cuneate. Flowers white or brightpink, axillary, solitary, in pouch or between forsk of branches. Capsule circumscissile, glabrous. Seeds many, dull-black, reniform, with faint, wavy ribs. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year 24. MOLLUGINACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Flowers in axillary fascicles, seeds appendaged...glinus 1. Flowers in terminal cymes, seeds minutely appendaged or not... Mollugo 211

34 GLINUS Linn. Key to the species 1. Densely stellate- hairy or woolly herbs, pedicels short, stamens more than 10...lotoides 1. Glabrous herbs, pedicels long, stamens 3 to 5...oppositifolia 69. Glinus lotoides Linn. Cooke 1:557; Saxton & Sedgwick 269; FGS 334. Prostrate, hairy, annual herbs. Leaves opposite or in whorls, unequal, obovate or suborbicular, petiole pubescent. Flowers in axillary fascicles, greenish- white, fruits ovoid, small, many seeded. Seedes minute, faintly tuberculate, dark- brown, reniform. Common in drying ponds, puddles and river beds. Flowers & Fruits: February- June 70. Glinus oppositifolius Linn. Cooke 1:558; Saxton & Sedgwick 269; FGS 334. Diffuse, branched herb, pale to yellow green. Leaves spathulate, elliptic, subsessile, glabrous, unequal. Flowers white, in axillary fascicles, white, glabrous. Fruits many seeded, ellipsoid, enclosed in persistent calyx. Seeds brown tubercled. An occasional weed in drying moist ground along margins or ponds, puddles and in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: January- August 212

35 MOLLUGO Linn. Key to the species 1. Leaves radical... nudicaulis 1. Leaves both cauline and radical, cauline ones in pseudo whorls...pentaphylla 71. Mollugo nudicaulis Lam. Encyel Saxton & Sedgwick 254; FGS 335. Annual herbs erect or diffuse branches filiform, greenish, terete, faintly striate, and glabrous. Leaves the entire radical, forming rosette on the ground, sessile, oblong- spathulate, glabrous, shallowly lobed, rounded at apex, topering at base. Flowers dull white in terminal, paniculate cymes. Capsules brown, many seeded. Seeds minute, appendaged, black. Common in sandy river bed. Flowers & Fruits: July- October 72. Mollugo pentaphylla Linn. Cooke 1:558; Saxton & Sedgwick; FGS 336. Suberect or diffuse slender herbs. Leaves radical as well as cauline, linear to linear- lanceolate, sessile, glabrous. Flowers in terminal, minute. Fruits globose. Seeds reniform, dark- brown, many, reticulate. Common in sandy river bad and pond. Flowers & Fruits: July- November 25. RUBIACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Flowers axillary in cymes of Oldenlandia 213

36 1. Flowers whorled or in axillary heads...borreria BORRERIA G.F. Meyer nom.cons. 73. Borreria articularis (L. f.) F.N. Will. Cooke 1:624; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 349. Procumbent, herbs. Stem and branches quadrangular, dull purple, rooting at lower nodes, hairy in young parts. Leaves: oblong, obovate-oblong or elliptic, sessile or sub sessile. Flowers: purplish- lilac, in axillary clusters. Fruits hairy, glabrous, oblong. Common and abundant among grasses and in cultivated fields. Flowers & Fruits: August- October OLDENLANDIA Linn. 74. Oldenlandia corymbosa Linn. Cooke 1:588; Saxton & Sedgwick 270; FGS 358. Suberect or prostrate, annual herbs. Stem and branches glabrous, sometime reddish purple. Leaves linear or linear lanceolate, subacute at apex, narrowed at base, glabrous. Flowers white, axillary and terminal cymes, glabrous, filiform. Fruits globose, glabrous. Seeds angular, minute, many. A common weed in moist ground in river beds and in cultivated fields. Flowers & Fruits: All the year round 26. ASTERACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Flowers in a head, pure white or bluish white: 2. Leaves opposite, anthers not tailed: 214

37 3. Heads hetaroganous, solitary or in fascicles of 2-3,pappus 0...Eclipta 3. Heads homogamous, in terminal corymbs, achenes with 5 pappus scales... Agaratum 2. Leaves alternate, anthers tailed: 4. Heads terminal, pedunculate...sphaeranthus 4. Heads, axillary, sessile, pappus of 2 scales Caesulia 1. Flowers in a head purple, violet or reddish- brown: 5. Leaves pinnatifid, pappus 0... Cyathocline 5. Leaves entire, pappus copius... Blumea 1. Flowers in a head yellow or greenish- yellow: 6. Plants with yellow juice; stem erect... Sonchus 6. Plants with juice: 7. Achenes 2 enclosed in a hard spinscent fruit Xanthium 7. Achenes not as above: 8. Achenes covered with stout spines......acanthospermum 8. Achenes not spinscent: 9. Pappus, copular...grangea 9. Pappus, hairs many: 10. Ray flowers ligulate large

38 ... Pulicaria 10. Ray flowers filiform, small: 11. Leaves sessile, linear, Oblong...Gnaphalium 11. Leaves subsessile or petiolate, ellipticoblong or lyrate, runcinate...blumea ACANTHOSPERMUM Schrank. 75. Acanthospermum hispidum DC. FGS 366. Erect, densely hispid. Leaves hairy, serrate, acute or sub acute, subsessle, obovate. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow, minute. Fruits obconocal, brownish, glabrous, stellately arranged, hooked spines. Seen in moist places of lake. Flowers & Fruits: Throughout the year AGARATUM Linn. 76. Ageratum conyzoides Linn. Cooke 2:14; Saxton & Sedgwick; FGS 367. Annual, erect herbs, glandular, pubescent. Leaves ovate, appressedly hairy, crenate, lower ones opposite, acute or subacute at apex, petiolet. Heads 3-5 mm across white or pale blue in terminal, cymes. Achene 1.5 mm long, 216

39 sharply angular, black, glabrescent on angles. Common in moist places in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: All round the year BLUMEA DC. Key to the species 1. Head all solitary...oblique 1. Head few in axillary and terminal corymbs...oxyodanta 77. Blumea oblique Linn. Cook 2:19; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 374. Erect or diffuse herbs. Stem divaricate, striate, hairy, glabrous. Leaves elliptic- oblong or obovate- oblong acute. Flowers axillary, solitary and few in terminal, cymes, yellow. Fruits oblong, appressed hairy ribbed, pink in coloured. A few plants seen in moist river beds. Flowers & Fruits: October- February 78. Blumea oxyodonta DC. Cooke 2:21; FGS 375. Prostrate herbs, branches slender, striate, glabrous. Leaves alternate, oblong, silky tomentose, sessile. Flowers in axillary and terminal, lax, yellow, cymes, peduncles hairy, slender. A few plants seen in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: January CAESULIA Roxb. 79. Caesulia axillaris Roxb. Cooke 2:35; Saxton & Sedgwick 272; FGS

40 Sub erect or diffuse, marshy herbs. Stem branched, sometime rooting at lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, green, sessile, acute at apex. Flowers white, 7-19 mm long, axillary, solitary, sessile. Fruits obovid, puberrulous, winged. Common in moist places in river beds, marshy places of river beds, scattered or sub gregarious. Flowers & Fruits: August- May CYATHOCLINE Cass. 80. Cyathocline purpurea (D.Don) O. Ktze. Cooke 2:15; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 378. Sub erect or diffuse, slender herbs. Stems slender, striate, more or less pubescent. Leaves sessile, radical and cauline, pinnatifid, more or less pubescent, toothed. Heads corymbose, panicles, rosy purple. Pappus 0. Achenes oblong, smooth, minute. Common and abundant, in moist places, in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: December- March ECLIPTA Linn. 81. Eclipta prostrata Linn. Cooke 2:38; Saxton & Sedgwick 272; FGS3 79. Erect or prostrate herbs. Stem strigosely hairy. Leaves elliptic, sessile or subsessile, hairy. Flowers white, solitary or in fascicles of 2-3, terminal and axillary, hairy. Fruits 1.5 mm long obconical, compressed, brow to black. Common abundant in moist place in river beds, along margins of ponds. 218

41 Flowers & Fruits: All the year round GNAPHALIUM Linn. Key to the Species 1. Heas in corymbose, leafless clusters...luteo- album 1. Heads in leafy spikes...indicum 1. Heads in rounded, leafy axillary or terminal clusters......pulvinatum 82. Gnaphalium indicum Linn. Cooke 2:30; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 382. Erect, sub erect or prostrate herbs. Leaves obovate oblong, sessile or sub sessile, white, woolly- tomentose. Flowers creamy white to pale- yellow, in axillary and terminal. Fruits oblong, minute, slightly hairy. Common in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: January- March 83. Gnaphalium luteo-album Linn. Cooke 2:30; FGS 383; JNP 161. Erect herbs. Stem and branches terete, white woolly- tomentose. Leaves solitary, linear- oblong, obtuse or apiculate, tapering at base. Flowers yellow, terminal corymbs. Fruits papillose, minute, oblong. Occasional in moist beds of river. Flowers & Fruits: January 84. Gnaphalium pulvinatum Del. Cooke 2:31; Saxton & Sedgwick 272; FGS

42 Prostrate, herbs, radially spreading branches. Leaves spathulate, tomentose, sessile, obtuse or acute. Flowers pale to bright yellow, in axillary and terminal, subglobose. Fruits minutely papillose, oblong. Rare a few plants seen in drying moist ground at a pond and river beds. Flowers & Fruits: February GRANGEA Adans. 85. Grangea maderaspatana Linn. Cooke 2:16; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 384. Annual, prostrate herbs. Stem and branches glandular- pubescent. Leaves cm long pinnatifid, sessile or sub sessile, green, acute at apex. Flowers solitary, terminal or leaf opposed, sessile, yellow. Fruits glandular- pubescent. Common in drying most ground along margins of ponds. Flowers & Fruits: January- April PULICARIA Gaertn. Key to the species 1. Ray- flowers lingulate...angustifolia 1. Ray- flowers tubular...foliolosa 86. Pulicaria angustifolia DC. Cook 2:34; Saxton & Sedgwic 272; FGS 391. Annual herbs. Stem and branches terete pubescent. Leaves linear- oblong, serrulate, sessile, sparsely pubscent. Flowers solitary, terminal, yellow ray flowers ligulate. Fruits glabrous, terete. Rare seen in river beds. 220

43 Flowers & Fruits: August- November 87. Pulicaria foliolosa DC. Cooke 2:34; Saxton & Sedgwick 272; FGS 391. Erect, annual, herbs, pubscent, glabrous, terete. Leaves sessile, linearoblong or oblanceolate, hairy. Flowers, glandular, across woolly, ray flowers filiform, tubular. Fruits oblong, terete, minute. Occasional in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: April- May SONCHUS Linn. 88. Sonchus oleraceus Linn. Cooke 2:61; Saxton & Sedgwick 273; FGS 394. Erect herbs, with milky juice. Leaves sessile, runcinate-pinnatifid, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, glabrous. Head yellow, in terminal,umbellate cymes. Achenes narrowly ovoid, pale-brown. Throughout in moisture ground. Flowers & Fruits: October-February SPHAERANTHUS Linn. 89. Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Cook 2:28; Saxton & Sedgwick 271; FGS 395. Prostrate, annual herbs. Stem and branches terete, glabrous, winged. Leaves elliptic-oblong or obovate oblong, sessile, glabrous pubscent, rounded or cordet. Flowers green at first, purple, globose, solitary, terminal, corolla white. Fruits minute, pale brown, glabrous. Common in cold season in wet lands in river beds and drying ponds. 221

44 Flowers & Fruits: November- February XANTHIUM Linn. 90. Xanthium strumarium Linn. Cooke 2:37; Saxton & Sedgwick 255; FGS 400. Annual herbs, pale greenish yellow to reddish purple, hispid. Leaves broadly ovate- triangular, hairy, acute. Flowers axillary and terminal, greenish yellow. Fruits oblong or ellipsoid, covered with hooked spines, pale brown. Margins of ponds and ditches. Flowers & Fruits: October- March 27. GENTIANACEAE NYMPHOIDES Nedic. 91. Nymphoides cristatum Roxb. Cooke 2:195; FGS 441. Aquatic herbs glabrous, branches stoloniferous, cylindrical, pale green or greenish yellow. Leaves ovate or suborbicular, floating, glabrous, entire, darkgreen above, purplish beneath, petioles. Flowers axillary, clustered, white, pedicels. Common in water along river banks. Flowers & Fruits: November- June. 28. HYDROPHYLLACEAE HYDROLEA Linn. 92. Hydrolea zeylanica Linn. Cooke 2:197; Saxton & Sedgwick 279; FGS 443. Prostrate or sub erect annual herbs. Stem much branched, glandular, hairy, glabrous. Leaves lanceolate, glabrous, acute. Flowers blue or purple violet, 222

45 hairy, unilateral cymes. Flowers ellipsoid, straw coloured, enclosed, calyx excrescent. Rare few plants seen in river beds. Flowers & Fruits: October- November 29. BORAGINACEAE HELIOTROPIUM Linn. Key to the species 1. Calyx deeply divided, nutlets not enveloped by the persistent calyx...ovalifolium 1.Calyx not as above, nutlets enveloped in persistent calyx......supinum 93. Heliotropium ovalifolium Forsk. Cooke 2:211; Saxton & Sedgwick 280; FGS 453. Annual, diffuse or erect herbs. Stem woolly, hairy. Leaves ovate- oblong or obovate, bluish- green, hairy, petioles hairy. Flowers in terminal, erect, white, minute, unilateral, simple, spikes 4-8 cm long. Nutlets subglobose, hairy. Occasional in drying moist ground along margins of ponds, ditches etc. Flowers & Fruits: August- January 94. Heliotropium supinum Linn. Cooke 2:209; Saxton & Sedgwick 279; FGS 454. Prostrate, woolly herbs. Stem and branches soft, white, hairy. Leaves villous, acute or obtuse, elliptic or ovate, petiole slender hairy. Flowers white, cymes, minute. Fruits minutely tuberculate on rounded, black, dark 223

46 brown. Frequent in drying moist ground in river beds and along ditches and ponds. Flowers & Fruits: January- June 30. EHRETIACEAE COLDENIA Linn. 95. Coldenia procumbens Linn. Cooke 2:205; Saxton & Sedgwick 279; FGS 449. Prostrate herbs. Stem and branches hairy. Leaves elliptic, oblong or obovate- oblong, green, round at apex, tapering at base, petioles hairy. Flowers axillary, in terminal cymes, white to pale yellow. Fruits pale brown, conical, hidden by the surrounding leaves. Common in drying ponds, ditches, river beds etc. Flowers & Fruits: September- March 31. CONVOLVULACEAE Key to the Genera 1. Plants erect or spreading...evolvulus 1. Plants twining. 2. Corolla tube uniformly enlarged from the base......merremia 2. Corolla tube not uniformly enlarged from the base......ipomoea 224