1117

 Indianthus virgatus (Roxb.) Suksathan & Borchs.

Synonym	:	Phrynium virgatum Roxb.
Family	:	Marantaceae
Flowering and fruiting period	:	June – March
Distribution	:	India (Southern India & Andaman Islands) and SriLanka
Key botanical characters:   Caulescent herb with clustered, simple stem with puvinate nodes, to 4 cm tall. Leaves alternate, evenly placed in two opposite rows; petiole very short less than 3 cm long. Lamina ovate-elliptic, 18.3–22.8 × 5.1–6.3 cm, glabrous with parallel venation. Inflorescence a lax-flowered, terminal panicle. Bracts solid, boat-shaped, 2.5–2.8 × 0.3–0.4 cm, leathery, light green or hyaline, transparent, margins not ciliated, hyaline, tip ciliated. Flower groups dolichoblastic, interphylls and bracteoles absent. Flowers white in pairs, 2.6–2.9 × 1.1–1.2 cm. Fruit green, rough surface, three-seeded, dehiscent.