968

Microstachys chamaelea (L.) Müll.Arg.

Synonym	:	Cnemidostachys chamaelaea (L.) Spreng.
Family	:	Euphorbiaceae
Local name	:	English - Creeping Sebastiana Malayalam - Kodiyavannakku, Njettavanakku
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July-December
Distribution	:	Indo-Malesia to Australia
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Moist and dry deciduous forests and grasslands, also in the plains
Uses	:
Key Botanical Characters: Erect or diffuse herbs. Leaves simple, alternate, oblong-lanceolate, apex obtuse or acute, base obtuse, margin minutely dentate. Flowers in monoecious slender axillary spikes. Male flowers minute, in clusters of 3; tepals 5, connate; stamens 2-4, anthers globose. Female flowers solitary at base of spike; tepals 3, ovate; ovary 3-lobed, echinate without; ovule 1 in each cell; style 3, connate at base. Capsule 3-lobed each with two rows of soft prickles on the back; seeds oblong, carunculate.