beautifulflowers032840mbp

154 BEAUTIFUL FLOWEBS OF KASHMIR [PI. 55 A 56
3-lobed or almost halbert-shaped, veins radiating from the
end of the leaf-stalk. Stem-leaves 1-2. Stalks sometimes
8 in. long. Stipules broad, lax. Flowers in panicled racemes,
bisexual, the ultimate flower-stalks slender, jointed in the
middle, thickened above. Sepals 4, outer ones spreading or
bent back, the inner spoon-shaped, 3-5-nerved. Stamens 6.
Ovary compressed. Styles 2, short ; stigmas nmbriate. Fruit
^-i in. diameter, round-heart-shaped wing membranous,
;
veined, top notched,
Flowers. June, July.
Locality. Tosh Maidan, 11,000-12,000 ft.;
;
Gangabal
Khur Mt., 13,800 ft.
Distribution. Alpine Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim,
10,000-17,000 ft., mountains of Europe, N. Asia and America
arctic regions.
GNETACEAE.
Plate 56
(The name Gnetum was formed by Linneus after the Malayan
name gnemon which he called Gnetum gnemon.)
EPHEDRA, Linn
(A classical Greek name for one of the species.)
Fig. 1.
Ephedra Qerardiana, Wall.
A shrub, 1-4 ft. high, rigid, nearly erect, hairless. Branches
slender, green, finely grooved, often curved. Leaves reduced
to opposite, membranous scales sheathing the joints of the
branches. Flowers very small, 1-sexual, in the axils of the
uppermost bracts of small cone-like spikes. Bracts opposite,
united, the lower ones empty. Male and female spikes on
separate plants. Male spikes egg-shaped, solitary or 2-3
together. Flowers 2-4 pairs
; perianth shortly tube-shaped,
membranous, flattened, mouth 2-lobed ;
filaments united into
a column, protruding from the perianth and carrying a head
of 5-8 globose anthers. Female spike solitary ;
bracts 2-3
pairs ; flowers 1 or 2, each consisting of a single, erect, stalkless
ovule surrounded by 2 coats, the outer one thick with a
hole at the tip, the inner thin and prolonged upwards into a
style-like tube, which is persistent in fruit. Fruit egg-shaped,