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linear to ovate or ovate-cordate to acuminate, 7-9- veined, sometimes as broad as long. Petioles of lower leaves stout, terete ; pedicels short, emerging from the channelled sheaths of the uppermost leaves. Racemes sub-sessiled, spiciform, young, globose ; rhachis lengthening as the flowers expand ; terminal flower the first to open. Pedicels ⅛-¼in. Perianth ⅓in. across ; segments unequal, 3 larger obovate, 3 smaller oblong, blue ; stamens 6, inserted on the base of the perianth segment, one longish with the filaments, spurred, large ; anther dark-blue, the others yellow. Capsule ⅔in. long, oblong.

Use : — The root is chewed for toothache, and the bark eaten with sugar for asthma. (Atkinson).

Sans. : — Dádamari.

Vern. : — Dâdmâri (H.) ; Chine ghás, debidubba (Beng.) ; Kotsjillettipullu, kotsjilletri (Mal.) ;

Habitat : — Marshy ground, in low country ; Bengal ; Sikkim ; Assam ; Khasia Hills. Salt marshes in the Southern Konkan to Ceylon.

Erect, tufted, rash-like, scapigerous, glabrous, annual herbs, l-2ft. high. Stem short, simple. Leaves radical, as long as the scape, ¼-⅓in. broad, bifarious, loriform (thong- shaped) or ensiform, spongy, narrowed to an obtuse tip ; scabe robust, grossed ; angles acute ; spike ½-1¼in., cylindric, ovoid or globose ; bracts many, ¼in. diam., broader than long, orbicular or cuneately obovoid, tumid, dark red-brown, sinning, very coriaceous ; margins scarious ; flowers ½in. broad, yellow, lateral bracteoles dorsally winged ; wing serrulate ; claw of petal as long as the sepal. Petal limb orbicular, erose ; stamens 3, inserted on petal ; filament short, broad ; anther oblong, 2 cells, obtuse above, acute at the base ; staminodes 2-3-fid ; arms long ; stigmas truncate. (Trimen.)