86 pENTANDRiA DiGYNiA. Semecarpus. 



the Botanic Garden at Calcutta in 1798, and in August, 

 3 804, they blossomed for the first time, when they were 

 handsome^ small trees, about twelve feet in height, with 

 many smooth ascending branches, and branchlets. 



Leaves alternate, short-petioled, lanceolate, entire 

 and very smooth on both sides ; length from ten to 

 eighteen inches, and from three to tive broad. Petioles 

 from one to two inches long, round, and smooth. Stipules 

 none. Panicles terminal, thin, long-ovate, smooth. Bractes 

 minute, caducous. Flowers numerous, small, greenish- 

 yellow, and inodorous. Calyx saucer-shaped, five-tooth- 

 ed. Petals five, ovate, spreading. Nectary a yellow fleshy 

 ring round the base of the germ, which becomes the fleshy 

 receptacle of the seed. Filaments five, rather broad, 

 length of ihe germ, inserted round the base of the necta- 

 ry. Germ superior, roundish, one-celled, containing one 

 ovula attached to the top of the cell. Styles\hxee, spread- 

 ing. Stigmas two-toothed. iVi^f resting on the large smooth, 

 yellow, fleshy, cup-shaped receptacle, obliquely-obverse, 

 reniform, one celled, one valved, considerably compress- 

 ed, longitudinally striated and wrinkled, colour a brown- 

 ish black, and of a firm leathery consistence, composed 

 of an exterior, and interior integument, with numerous 

 small cells between. Seed single, completely filling the 

 nut, covered with a single brown integument. Perisperm 

 none. Embryo inverse. Cotyledons two, conform to the 

 seed. Plumula two-lobed. Radicle conical, superior, 

 that is, lodged between the most elevated part of the co- 

 tyledons, and at the greatest distance from the umbili- 

 cus, or base of the nut. 



3. S. cuneifolia. R. 



Leaves wedge-shaped, short-petioled, villous under- 

 neath. 



A native of the range of mountains which bounds 

 Hindoosthan on the north, from thence seeds were sent 



