MERRILL: SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE "RAIN TREE" 47 



filiformibus, stigmate minuto, capitate Legumen rectum vel leviter 

 curvatum, indehiscens, crassocompressum, epicarpio tenue crustaceo, 

 mesocarpio pulposo, endocarpio firmiter crustaceo, continuo, inter 

 semina septa formante, suturis incrassatis. Semina numerosa, trans- 

 versa, oblongo-ovata, leviter compressa, nitida, exarillata, utrinque cum 

 areola anguste oblonga instructa, funiculo filiformi. 



Arbor procera, coma expansa, inermis. Folia abrupte bipinnata. 

 4-6-juga, glandulis inter jugalibus instructa, foliolis deorsum minoribus, 

 pinnis superioribus 6-8-jugatis, inferioribus 3-5-jugatis. Stipulae lan- 

 ceolatae, parvae, deciduae. Pedunculi solitarii vel subfasciculati, 

 elongati, in axillis superioribus subterminales. Flores rosei, pedicellati ; 

 inter Mimoseas mediocres, in capitulis globosis dispositi. 



The genus as above denned is most closely allied to Enter olobium, 

 differing especially in its straight or nearly straight, pulpy, not indu- 

 rated pods, and its pedicelled not sessile flowers. Pithecolobium differs 

 in its cochleate, curved or twisted, nonseptate, dehiscent pods, the 

 seeds often arillate. Albizzia differs especially in its thin, dehiscent, 

 nonseptate pods. 



Samanea Saman (Jacq.) Merrill. 



Mimosa Saman Jacq. Fragmenta 15. pi. 9. 1800. 



Inga Saman Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 1024. 1806. 



Pithecolobium Saman Benth. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. 3:101. 



1844. 

 Calliandra Saman Griseb. Fl. Brit. W. Ind. 225. 1864. 

 Albizzia Saman F. Muell. Select Extra-Trop. Plants 27. 1891. 

 Enterolobium Saman Pram, ex King in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 66 2 : 352. 



1897. 



Other synonyms given by Bentham are Inga cinerea Humb. & 

 Bonpl., Inga salutaris H.B.K., Mimosa pubifera Poir., Calliandra 

 tubulosa Benth., and Pithecolobium cinereum Benth. 



Sama?iea Saman, though apparently a native of the northern part 

 of South America, is now widely distributed in cultivation in most tropi- 

 cal countries. It is remarkable for its exceedingly fast growth, the 

 ease with which it can be transplanted, and the rapidity with which it 

 recovers from the most severe pruning when transplanted. The tree 

 reaches large proportions, and on account of its widely spreading 

 branches forms a magnificent shade tree. The sweet pulpy pods are 

 produced in great abundance and are relished by cattle. In fact in 

 some countries the cultivation of the tree has been recommended on 

 account of the forage value of its pods. Because of the ease with 

 which it can be propagated and its very rapid growth it gives promise 

 of being of great value in reafforestation work in some tropical coun- 



