BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 291 



Peralu. Eheede Hort. Malab. 1. t. 28. 



Varinga latifolia. Rumph. Amb. 3. t. 84. (fig. bad.) 

 Pluk. Phyt. t.in^.fA. 



Native names. Bengli. Bur, or But. Sanscr. Vuta. Cingh. 

 Bagha and Ma-nuga. Bralini. Vallhoe. Teling. 3/^r?>. 



" An account of this immense and most beautiful tree is to 

 be met with in almost every history of India. 



" It grows wild about the skirts of the Circar mountains, 

 but in greatest perfection about and in villages where it is 

 planted for the sake of its extensively cool, grateful shade ; 

 it is there the tree is found in its greatest perfection and 

 beauty. Flowering time the hot season. I know of no other 

 species of Fims, which sends forth fibres from the branches 

 that descend to the ground, and become trunks. 



" Trunk ; when young it is distinct, and single; at all times 

 its form, thickness and height, very variable ; still more so 

 than that of F. religiosa, because generally reared from 

 branches procured naked, and stuck in the ground. Branches 

 spreading to a great extent, dropping capillary roots here and 

 there ; these enter the ground as soon as they reach it, gradu- 

 ally becoming as large as, and similar to, the parent trunk, by 

 which means the extent becomes almost incredible; the height 

 of the tree is at the same time slowly increasing : some I have 

 seen fully five hundred yards in circumference round the 

 extremities of the branches, and about one hundred feet high, 

 the principal trunks of which might be more than twenty-five 

 feet to the branches, and eight or nine in diameter : they are 

 largest about the villages situated in fertile valleys among the 

 mountains. The bark is smooth and of a light ash-colour. 

 Tiie wood light, white and porous. Leaves alternate, about 

 the extremities of the branchlets, petioletl, ovate-cordate, 

 three-nerved, entire; sometimes the border is very slightly 

 waved; when young very downy on both sides; when old, less 

 so, particularly above; from five to six inches long, and from 

 three to four broad, at the apex of the petiole: on the under 

 side, is a broad, smooth, greasy-looking gland. Petioles a 

 little compressed, from one to two inches long : downy. Sti- 



