642 pentandria monogynia. Jfangifera. 



have not yet met with any description which deserves the 

 name. 



It is universally cultivated all over India, and all the 

 Maimer parts of Asia. Is generally raised from seed, though 

 sometimes by layers, or grafting by approach, which are the 

 only methods of certainly continuing a good sort, probably 

 of improving them. The stones must be sown soon after 

 they are taken from the fruit, otherwise they do not vege- 

 tate, but there is no depending on the quality of the fruit so 

 raised. The seed of a very superior sort will produce fruit 

 of a bad kind ; and vice versa, hence such an infinite variety. 

 Colonel Kyd in Bengal, and Dr. Anderson at Madras, have 

 lately begun to graft by approach ; which will no doubt be a 

 means of improving this excellent fruit. Flowering time Ja- 

 nuary, February, and March ; the fruit is ripe in May, June, 

 and July. 



The tree grows to be of a very great size, with an erect 

 trunk, covered with dark-coloured, scabrous, cracked bark ; 

 (large old trees of from ten to fifteen feet in circumference are 

 meant.*) Francltes very numerous, the lower ones spreading- 

 horizontally to a great extent, the upper ones gradually as- 

 cending till they become nearly erect in the centre. Leaves 

 alternate, petioled, about the extremities of the young shoots, 

 approximated, reclined, lanceolar, entire, often a little waved 

 at the margins, firm, smooth, shining; generally from six to 

 twelve inches long, and from two to three broad. Petioles 

 round, smooth, from one to two inches long, thickish at the 

 base. Stipules none. Panicles terminal, large, erect, or as- 

 cending, rigid, a little downy, often tinged with red. Pedi- 

 cels short, thick, rigid. Bractes oval, concave, a little downy. 

 Flowers small, yellow, with some stripes of red near the base 

 of the petals, many perfect male flowers are often found mix- 

 ed with the hermaphrodite ones throughout the panicle. 



* A grove of that .size is before my door, and a most noble sight 

 it is. 



