FLORA OF THE INDIAN DESERT. 245 



III. Mimosecp. 

 Prosopis L. 



I'rosopis sipicigera L. Mant. (1767) 68. 



Vern. N : Kejra. 



Loc. : Jodhpur : Balarwa (No. 7253!). Jaisalmer : Bap (No. 7249!), 

 Loharki (No. 72471), W. of Loharki (No. 7255 !), N. of Jaisalmer 

 (No. 7251 !), Amarsagar (No. 7248 !, 7250 !, 7252 !), Vinjorai, sandy 

 plain (No. 7254 !). 



Distrib. : India, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, Persia. 



Fl. in Nov. 



NoiE : This is a very variable plant. In its young state the stipules 

 areofter larger than the leaflets (nearly 1 cm. long), ovate acuminate 

 or oblong acute, very oblique, slightly cordate, especially if the plant 

 grows in the neighbourhood of water. As it grows older the sti- 

 pules become smaller and caducous, and at last vanish altogether. 

 The cultivated tree has much larger leaves than the wild one. The 

 latter is always strongly armed, and more so in dry soil, whilst the 

 cultivated plant is finally almost or quite unarmed. 



Uses: The pods are eaten as a vegetable aud valued as a fodder. In 

 severe famines its bark is eaten. The wood is used for building 

 purposes, wells, etc., but it is not very good. The tree is held 

 sacred by the Bishnois (Macadam). 



Dischrostachys DC. 



Dichrostachys dnerea W. & A. Prodr. (1834) 271. 

 Vem. N. : Kolai. 

 Loc. : W. Rajputana (King). 

 Distrib. : Indo-Malaya, N. Australia. 



Mimosa L. 



Mimos2L hamata Willd. Sp. PI. IV (1805) 10.'i3. 



Loc; Jodhpur: Kailana (No. 7263 !), Balsamand (No. 7260 I), Osian 



(No. 7257 ! ), near Badka (No. 7258 !). Jaisalmer : Amarsagar 



(No. 7256 !, 4803 !), Vinjorai (No. 7262 !,7261 !), Devikot (No. 7259 !). 

 Distrib. : India. 

 FL and fr in Oct. and Nov. 

 Uses: Half a tola of the seeds pounded and boiled in buflPalo milk is 



taken as a tonic against weakness, but must not be taken in excess. 

 Mimosa ruhicaulis Lam. Encycl. Meth. I (1783) 120. 

 Vern. N. : Hajeru, Janjani, Jijania. 

 Loc. : Rocky places about Jodhpur and Jaisalmer (Macadam). — We 



have not seen this species, and it is possible that Miss Macadam 



has mistaken M. hamata for M. rubicaulis. 

 Distrib. : India, Afghanistan. 



Acacia Willd. 



Acacia arabica Willd. Sp. PI. IV (1805) 1085. 



Vern. N. : Babul, Bambul, Bawal. 



Loc: Jodhpur: Kailana (No. 7264 1), Jaisalmer: Bada Bag (No. 

 72661,7265!). 



Distrib. : Natal, Trop. Africa, Egypt, Arabia, India, Ceylon. 



Fl. in Oct., fr. in Nov. 



Uses : The wood is used for building purposes, for tooth brushes, 

 charms, etc. The pods are gathered and given as fodder to goats. 

 The bruised leaves are applied to sore eyes in children. A gum 

 exudes from the stem in the cold weather which is considered un- 

 wholesome as food, but is used medicinally (Macadam). Adams 



